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Mecosta County, MI Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for Mecosta County, Michigan.

Offices for Mecosta County

Mecosta County Veterans Services

Mecosta County Veterans Services

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Big Rapids

County veterans service contact for benefits and claims questions. Confirm representation and appointments directly.

Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.

For statewide phone and remote help, see the Michigan directory.

Getting help in Mecosta County

Mecosta County Veterans Services appears in this guide. Call the provider to confirm the type of claims help, current appointment and meeting location.

Official service directory (opens in a new tab)

Office closed right now?

Call the Claim Raven 24-hour VSO prep line to get your records ready before your appointment. Claim Raven is not a VSO office. Your VSO's number is listed above.

Call (833) 387-1649

Veterans in Mecosta County

The ACS estimates about 2,400, give or take 282 civilian veterans in Mecosta County.

By ACS estimates, Mecosta County has the 41st largest veteran population among Michigan's 83 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureMecosta CountyMichiganUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating26 percent

above the Michigan share; below the national share.

24 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher13 percent

above the Michigan share; the same rounded estimate as the national share.

10 percent13 percent

Mecosta County has about 618, give or take 98 veterans 75 and older, making up 26 percent of its veterans compared with 29 percent in Michigan.

Veterans under 35 in Mecosta County number about 161, give or take 68; their 7 percent share is above Michigan's 6 percent.

Women veterans account for 10 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Mecosta County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Mecosta County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureMecosta CountyMichiganUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$42,405 ± $2,780$48,453 ± $466$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$29,966 ± $1,063$38,782 ± $167$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over9.5% ± 4.6 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over35.5% ± 5.9 points31.8% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6460.3% ± 6.6 points70.9% ± 0.8 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 642.1% ± 4.6 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over97.3% ± 1.2 points95.1% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over22.6% ± 5.1 points24.1% ± 0.6 points31.8% ± 0.2 points

Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.

VA projects slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 2,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Mecosta County

VA reports 821 veterans in Mecosta County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent167
30 to 40 percent98
50 to 60 percent106
70 to 90 percent243
100 percent207

FY2019: 589 recipients. Change to FY2025: +232.

VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).

VA home loans in Mecosta County

In 2025, lenders reported 74 VA-backed home loans out of 1,004 home loans made in Mecosta County (7.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $251,000.

The 2026 FHFA one-unit county loan limit here is $832,750. This limit matters for a VA loan only when part of your entitlement is still tied to another VA loan. VA explains remaining entitlement and loan limits (opens in a new tab).

HMDA 2025 and FHFA 2026 sources.

When they served

The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 844, give or take 132) and post-9/11 only (about 474, give or take 168).

For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.

VA money in Mecosta County

VA reported about $22.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $16.5 million in medical care spending in Mecosta County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Mecosta County is Battle Creek VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Battle Creek, MI, about 89 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Mecosta County is Great Lakes Bay Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Bay City, MI, about 69 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Detroit RO (station 329); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Fort Custer National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
15501 Dickman Road Augusta, MI 49012
269-731-4164

About 89.8 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
21731 Spring St Union Grove, WI 53182
262-878-5660

About 153.1 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

This cemetery is in another state. State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules, which can include residency in that state.

National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.

Cleanup and former military sites in Mecosta County

Formerly Used Defense Sites

Military branch is not listed in the USACE FY2024 property data.

These lists use site points within county boundaries. A site may extend into another county.

For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.

Veterans experiencing homelessness

On one night in January 2024, Michigan Balance of State CoC counted 54 veterans experiencing homelessness (39 sheltered, 15 unsheltered).

MI-500 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.

The HUD workbook reports 51 veterans for the 2019 comparison. This CoC includes areas that merged after 2019.

This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.

If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.

Your nearest VA medical center by straight-line distance is Aleda E. Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 989-497-2500. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Mecosta County

VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).

VA homeless programs (opens in a new tab)

Cities and towns in Mecosta County

  • Big Rapids (city): about 8,477 residents
  • Canadian Lakes (unincorporated community): about 2,991 residents
  • Morley (village): about 624 residents
  • Mecosta (village): about 464 residents
  • Barryton (village): about 394 residents
More places (2)
  • Paris (unincorporated community): about 202 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Stanwood (village): about 162 residents

Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.

Free tools and help

For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)

Michigan benefits

Eligible Michigan veterans receiving benefits at the 100 percent permanent and total rate can request a property tax exemption.

Eligible children of veterans receiving benefits at the permanent and total rate may receive Michigan undergraduate tuition assistance.

See every Michigan benefit by rating

Get ready for your appointment

  • Your DD-214 or other discharge papers
  • Any VA decision letters you have received
  • Medical records you want to discuss

Full appointment checklist

Starting a new claim? Ask about an intent to file

Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.

Search or filter Michigan listings

Nearby counties

Sources and method

ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near Mecosta County

Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.

Karen Starr

Claims agent · Grand Rapids · MI · About 43 miles away

VA-accredited since 2013 · checked

VA accreditation number 26678

4.4 · 26 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Karen Starr's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Michigan

Brittany VanDam

Attorney · Grand Rapids · MI · About 43 miles away

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 52707

4.7 · 23 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Brittany VanDam's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Michigan

Gregory Hodge

Attorney · Grand Rapids · MI · About 43 miles away

VA-accredited since 2010 · checked

VA accreditation number 17574

4.7 · 23 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Gregory Hodge's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Michigan

Elizabeth Venema

Attorney · Shepherd · MI · About 25 miles away

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 53535

5.0 · 57 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Elizabeth Venema's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Michigan

Sarah Ostahowski

Attorney · Claire · MI · About 35 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 22166

4.8 · 51 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to Sarah Ostahowski's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Michigan

VA-accredited attorneys in Michigan

Claim Raven is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney or claims agent. Listings come from VA's public accreditation records. Paid placements are advertising. Check an attorney's accreditation on VA's accreditation search (opens in a new tab) before you hire them.

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