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

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

Offices for Otter Tail County

Otter Tail County Veterans Service Office

Minnesota county veterans services

Type of help
County veterans service office
Location
Fergus Falls

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

505 South Court Street, Fergus Falls, MN 56537

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 Otter Tail County

Otter Tail County has a listed veterans service office in Fergus Falls. Call 218-998-8605 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 Otter Tail County

The ACS estimates about 3,780, give or take 270 civilian veterans in Otter Tail County.

By ACS estimates, Otter Tail County has the 14th largest veteran population among Minnesota's 87 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureOtter Tail CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating38 percent

above the Minnesota share; above the national share.

34 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher13 percent

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

9 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Otter Tail County number about 1,360, give or take 127; their 36 percent share is above Minnesota's 32 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 5 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Otter Tail County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Otter Tail County has about 296, give or take 114 women veterans; both the county and Minnesota round to a 8 percent share.

Income, work and education in Otter Tail County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureOtter Tail CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$44,416 ± $3,997$52,090 ± $555$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$40,093 ± $988$47,820 ± $204$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over6.9% ± 2.6 points6.8% ± 0.4 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over34.1% ± 4.8 points30.3% ± 0.6 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6464.1% ± 14.6 points77.3% ± 0.7 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 6420.7% ± 13.3 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over94.6% ± 2.2 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over24.3% ± 3.0 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 3,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 4,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Otter Tail County

VA reports 1,563 veterans in Otter Tail County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent473
30 to 40 percent174
50 to 60 percent191
70 to 90 percent405
100 percent320

FY2019: 1,248 recipients. Change to FY2025: +315.

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 Otter Tail County

In 2025, lenders reported 75 VA-backed home loans out of 1,242 home loans made in Otter Tail County (6.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $304,000.

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 1,610, give or take 142) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 564, give or take 124).

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

VA money in Otter Tail County

VA reported about $35.6 million in compensation and pension spending and about $45.7 million in medical care spending in Otter Tail County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Otter Tail County is St. Cloud VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in St. Cloud, MN, about 92 miles in a straight line from the county center.

Outside Minnesota, in Fargo, ND, Fargo Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Otter Tail County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 63 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

Fargo National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
8709 40th Avenue N, County Road 20 Harwood, ND 58042
701-451-4650

About 68.4 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Little Falls (opens in a new tab)
15550 Hwy 115 Little Falls, MN 56345
320-616-2527

About 69.9 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 Otter Tail County

  • Minnesota Veterans Home, Fergus Falls

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 Otter Tail 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, Moorhead/West Central Minnesota CoC counted 4 veterans experiencing homelessness (4 sheltered, 0 unsheltered).

MN-508 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 Fargo VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 701-239-3700. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Otter Tail 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 Otter Tail County

  • Fergus Falls (city): about 14,181 residents
  • Perham (city): about 3,627 residents
  • Pelican Rapids (city): about 2,586 residents
  • New York Mills (city): about 1,371 residents
  • Parkers Prairie (city): about 980 residents
More places (15)
  • Henning (city): about 860 residents
  • Battle Lake (city): about 786 residents
  • Ottertail (city): about 490 residents
  • Underwood (city): about 461 residents
  • Deer Creek (city): about 330 residents
  • Bluffton (city): about 263 residents
  • Vergas (city): about 258 residents
  • Dent (city): about 230 residents
  • Dalton (city): about 223 residents
  • Erhard (city): about 154 residents
  • Elizabeth (city): about 122 residents
  • Clitherall (city): about 111 residents
  • Vining (city): about 86 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Richville (city): about 44 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Urbank (city): about 40 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 Otter Tail 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 176 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 165 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 145 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 82 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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