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

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

Offices for Cook County

Cook County Veterans Service Office

Minnesota county veterans services

Type of help
County veterans service office
Location
Grand Marais

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

411 West 2nd Street, Grand Marais, MN 55604

Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers lists 8:00 - 4:00 M-Th, 8:00 - 1:00 Friday. Call to confirm current hours.

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

Getting help in Cook County

Cook County has a listed veterans service office in Grand Marais. Call 218-387-3639 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 Cook County

The ACS estimates about 329, give or take 71 civilian veterans in Cook County.

Among Minnesota's 87 counties and equivalents, Cook County ranks 80th by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureCook CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating22 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Share rated 70 percent or higher7 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in Cook County number about 114, give or take 45; their 35 percent share is above Minnesota's 32 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 0 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Cook County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 7 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Cook County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Cook County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureCook CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$55,481 ± $20,252$52,090 ± $555$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$42,107 ± $2,891$47,820 ± $204$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over4.8% ± 4.0 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over36.1% ± 14.9 points30.3% ± 0.6 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6474.1% ± 23.1 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 647.7% ± 32.7 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over90.6% ± 8.6 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over40.1% ± 12.9 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. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Cook County

VA reports 117 veterans in Cook County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent45
30 to 40 percent10
50 to 60 percent13
70 to 90 percent27
100 percent22

FY2019: 127 recipients. Change to FY2025: -10.

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 Cook County

In 2025, lenders reported 2 VA-backed home loans out of 160 home loans made in Cook County (1.3% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $370,000.

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 150, give or take 58) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 103, give or take 45).

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

VA money in Cook County

VA reported about $2.8 million in compensation and pension spending and about $2.7 million in medical care spending in Cook County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Cook County is St. Cloud VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in St. Cloud, MN, about 238 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Cook County is Duluth Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Duluth, MN, about 107 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

Northwoods National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
4520 Lakewood Road Harshaw, WI 54529
906-396-9276

About 146.7 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Duluth (opens in a new tab)
4777 Hwy 53 Saginaw, MN 55779
218-520-0120

About 107.8 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 Cook County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Cook 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, Northeast Minnesota CoC counted 3 veterans experiencing homelessness (1 sheltered, 2 unsheltered).

MN-504 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 2 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 Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility (opens in a new tab), 800-215-8262. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Cook 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 Cook County

  • Grand Marais (city): about 1,796 residents
  • Lutsen (unincorporated community): about 222 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 Cook 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 250 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 223 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 30540

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Your state: Minnesota

Jon Brown

Claims agent · Edina · MN · About 242 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 234 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 56741

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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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