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Blue Earth County, MN Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find the Blue Earth County veterans service office and confirm its current appointment details.

Offices for Blue Earth County

Blue Earth County Veterans Service Office

Minnesota county veterans services

Type of help
County veterans service office
Location
Mankato

County veterans service office for state and federal benefits questions, including VA claims. Contact the office to ask about appointments.

405 South 5th Street, Mankato, MN 56001

Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers lists Monday - Friday 8:00-4:30. Call to confirm current hours.

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

Getting help in Blue Earth County

Blue Earth County has a listed veterans service office in Mankato. Call 507-304-4246 to confirm the meeting location, hours and claims assistance before traveling.

Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers profile (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 Blue Earth County

The ACS estimates about 2,510, give or take 292 civilian veterans in Blue Earth County.

By ACS estimates, Blue Earth County has the 22nd largest veteran population among Minnesota's 87 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureBlue Earth CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating36 percent

above the Minnesota share; above the national share.

34 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher14 percent

above the Minnesota share; above the national share.

9 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Blue Earth County number about 855, give or take 119; their 34 percent share is above Minnesota's 32 percent.

Veterans under 35 in Blue Earth County number about 306, give or take 149; their 12 percent share is above Minnesota's 7 percent.

Women veterans account for 5 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Blue Earth County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Blue Earth County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureBlue Earth CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$49,949 ± $4,608$52,090 ± $555$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$35,604 ± $1,293$47,820 ± $204$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over6.7% ± 3.5 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over34.3% ± 7.0 points30.3% ± 0.6 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6478.3% ± 5.5 points77.3% ± 0.7 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 648.3% ± 8.4 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over97.1% ± 1.8 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over26.7% ± 4.9 points28.6% ± 0.7 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 fewer veterans here in 2035: about 2,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 3,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Blue Earth County

VA reports 1,352 veterans in Blue Earth County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent543
30 to 40 percent179
50 to 60 percent134
70 to 90 percent284
100 percent212

FY2019: 1,152 recipients. Change to FY2025: +200.

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 Blue Earth County

In 2025, lenders reported 96 VA-backed home loans out of 1,087 home loans made in Blue Earth County (8.8% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $306,000.

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 955, give or take 167) and post-9/11 only (about 541, give or take 175).

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

VA money in Blue Earth County

VA reported about $25.2 million in compensation and pension spending and about $19.1 million in medical care spending in Blue Earth County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Blue Earth County is St. Cloud VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in St. Cloud, MN, about 107 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Blue Earth County is Twin Cities Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Richfield, MN, about 71 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists St. Paul RO (station 335); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Fort Snelling National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
7601 34th Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55450
612-726-1127

About 71.1 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Redwood Falls (opens in a new tab)
33752 Noble Ave Redwood Falls, MN 56283
507-709-4390

About 60.1 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules.

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

Cleanup and former military sites in Blue Earth County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

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, Rochester/Southeast Minnesota CoC counted 24 veterans experiencing homelessness (16 sheltered, 8 unsheltered).

MN-502 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 9 veterans for the 2019 comparison.

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 Minneapolis VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 612-725-2000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Blue Earth 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)

Veterans treatment courts in Blue Earth County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Blue Earth County as of December 31, 2025.

These courts connect participating veterans involved in the justice system with treatment and support. Each court sets its own eligibility rules. National Treatment Court Resource Center maps (opens in a new tab).

Cities and towns in Blue Earth County

  • Mankato (city): about 45,473 residents
  • Eagle Lake (city): about 3,281 residents
  • Lake Crystal (city): about 2,606 residents
  • Mapleton (city): about 1,728 residents
  • Madison Lake (city): about 1,322 residents
More places (7)
  • St. Clair (city): about 710 residents
  • Amboy (city): about 602 residents
  • Good Thunder (city): about 456 residents
  • Vernon Center (city): about 329 residents
  • Skyline (city): about 307 residents
  • Pemberton (city): about 223 residents
  • Garden City (unincorporated community): about 194 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)

Minnesota benefits

Minnesota offers a $300,000 home market value exclusion for qualifying veterans rated at least 100 percent permanent and total.

Eligible Minnesota dependents of veterans rated 100 percent permanent and total may receive up to $15,000 through the Minnesota GI Bill.

See every Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Blue Earth County

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

Matthew Petri

Claims agent · Eagan · MN · About 66 miles away

VA-accredited since 2013 · checked

VA accreditation number 26911

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

Your state: Minnesota

John Dorle

Claims agent · Woodbury · MN · About 91 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 30540

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

Your state: Minnesota

Jon Brown

Claims agent · Edina · MN · About 74 miles away

VA-accredited since 2010 · checked

VA accreditation number 16519

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

Your state: Minnesota

Lindsey Samson

Claims agent · Clearbrook · MN · About 253 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 56741

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Send a consultation request to Lindsey Samson

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

Your state: Minnesota

VA-accredited attorneys in Minnesota

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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