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

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

Offices for Fillmore County

Fillmore County Veterans Service Office

Minnesota county veterans services

Type of help
County veterans service office
Location
Preston

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

902 Houston Street Northwest, Preston, MN 55965

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

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

Getting help in Fillmore County

Fillmore County has a listed veterans service office in Preston. Call 507-765-4937 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 Fillmore County

The ACS estimates about 1,140, give or take 100 civilian veterans in Fillmore County.

Fillmore County is tied for the 47th largest veteran population among Minnesota's 87 counties and equivalents, using ACS point estimates.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureFillmore CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating33 percent

below the Minnesota share; above the national share.

34 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher6 percent

below the Minnesota share; below the national share.

9 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Fillmore County number about 406, give or take 54; their 36 percent share is above Minnesota's 32 percent.

Fillmore County has about 55, give or take 26 veterans under 35, making up 5 percent of its veterans compared with 7 percent in Minnesota.

Fillmore County has about 96, give or take 38 women veterans; both the county and Minnesota round to a 8 percent share.

Income, work and education in Fillmore County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureFillmore CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$40,285 ± $3,372$52,090 ± $555$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$42,859 ± $1,041$47,820 ± $204$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.5% ± 2.5 points6.8% ± 0.4 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over32.9% ± 4.8 points30.3% ± 0.6 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6478.2% ± 5.1 points77.3% ± 0.7 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 643.9% ± 4.5 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over94.7% ± 1.9 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over25.9% ± 6.0 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 1,000 on September 30, 2026, and fewer than 1,000 by September 30, 2035. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Fillmore County

VA reports 520 veterans in Fillmore County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent198
30 to 40 percent68
50 to 60 percent72
70 to 90 percent113
100 percent69

FY2019: 440 recipients. Change to FY2025: +80.

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 Fillmore County

In 2025, lenders reported 19 VA-backed home loans out of 438 home loans made in Fillmore County (4.3% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $281,000.

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 420, give or take 65) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 211, give or take 48).

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

VA money in Fillmore County

VA reported about $10.2 million in compensation and pension spending and about $7.6 million in medical care spending in Fillmore County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Fillmore County is Minneapolis VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Minneapolis, MN, about 101 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Fillmore County is Twin Cities Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Eagan, MN, about 95 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 99.2 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Preston (opens in a new tab)
715 Hwy 52 Preston, MN 55965
507-765-7320

About 1.4 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.

State Veterans Homes in Fillmore County

  • Minnesota Veterans Home, Preston

VA-recognized State Veterans Homes listed in VA's FY2025 per diem list, September 2024. VA State Home list (opens in a new tab).

Cleanup and former military sites in Fillmore County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Fillmore 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 Tomah VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 608-372-3971. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Fillmore 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 Fillmore County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Fillmore 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 Fillmore County

  • Chatfield (city): about 2,559 residents
  • Spring Valley (city): about 2,307 residents
  • Rushford (city): about 1,826 residents
  • Preston (city): about 1,362 residents
  • Harmony (city): about 1,024 residents
More places (9)
  • Rushford Village (city): about 809 residents
  • Lanesboro (city): about 744 residents
  • Mabel (city): about 730 residents
  • Fountain (city): about 493 residents
  • Canton (city): about 398 residents
  • Wykoff (city): about 377 residents
  • Ostrander (city): about 313 residents
  • Peterson (city): about 244 residents
  • Whalan (city): about 45 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 Fillmore 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 84 miles away

VA-accredited since 2013 · checked

VA accreditation number 26911

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Your state: Minnesota

John Dorle

Claims agent · Woodbury · MN · About 102 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 114 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 312 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

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