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Buchanan County, MO Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Buchanan in Missouri.

Offices for Buchanan County

St. Joseph MVC service office

Missouri Veterans Commission

Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
St. Joseph

Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to confirm how to get help.

Area served: Andrew County, Buchanan County, Holt County, Platte County. Physical office: St. Joseph, Buchanan County.

525 Jules, St. Joseph, MO 64501

Mon-Thur: 8:00am - 4:00pm

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

Getting help in Buchanan County

The MVC service-area map links this county to the listed office. Call to confirm the current service officer and appointment location.

Official state 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 Buchanan County

The ACS estimates about 4,690, give or take 414 civilian veterans in Buchanan County.

By ACS estimates, Buchanan County has the 16th largest veteran population among Missouri's 115 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureBuchanan CountyMissouriUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating28 percent

the same rounded estimate as the Missouri share; below the national share.

28 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher12 percent

the same rounded estimate as the Missouri share; below the national share.

12 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Buchanan County number about 1,290, give or take 168; their 28 percent share is above Missouri's 26 percent.

Buchanan County has about 388, give or take 126 veterans under 35; both the county and Missouri round to a 8 percent share.

Buchanan County has about 423, give or take 115 women veterans; both the county and Missouri round to a 9 percent share.

Income, work and education in Buchanan County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureBuchanan CountyMissouriUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$43,169 ± $3,881$47,561 ± $648$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$34,289 ± $1,286$38,684 ± $208$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over10.9% ± 3.6 points7.6% ± 0.3 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over40.8% ± 5.5 points33.2% ± 0.6 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6465.4% ± 5.3 points73.4% ± 0.9 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.9% ± 0.9 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over94.1% ± 2.5 points94.9% ± 0.3 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over23.5% ± 3.9 points26.5% ± 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 4,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 5,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Buchanan County

VA reports 1,480 veterans in Buchanan County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent413
30 to 40 percent177
50 to 60 percent187
70 to 90 percent431
100 percent272

FY2019: 1,306 recipients. Change to FY2025: +174.

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 Buchanan County

In 2025, lenders reported 146 VA-backed home loans out of 1,886 home loans made in Buchanan County (7.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $264,000.

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 1,650, give or take 249) and post-9/11 only (about 797, give or take 209).

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

VA money in Buchanan County

VA reported about $38.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $30.3 million in medical care spending in Buchanan County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Buchanan County is Kansas City VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Kansas City, MO, about 44 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Buchanan County is Kansas City Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Kansas City, MO, about 45 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists St. Louis RO (station 331); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Leavenworth National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
150 Muncie Road Leavenworth, KS 66048
913-727-1376

About 27.1 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Closer VA national cemetery for cremated remains only

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
395 Biddle Boulevard Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027
913-684-4348

About 22.3 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: cremation only.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Missouri State Veterans Cemetery - Higginsville (opens in a new tab)
20109 Bus. Hwy 13 Higginsville, MO 64037
660-362-6111

About 69.4 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.

Cleanup and former military sites in Buchanan 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, St. Joseph/Andrew, Buchanan, DeKalb Counties CoC counted 8 veterans experiencing homelessness (7 sheltered, 1 unsheltered).

MO-603 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 13 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 913-682-2000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Buchanan 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 Buchanan County

  • St. Joseph (city): about 71,236 residents
  • Agency (village): about 871 residents
  • De Kalb (town): about 518 residents
  • Easton (city): about 336 residents
  • Rushville (village): about 260 residents
More places (2)
  • Faucett (unincorporated community): about 114 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Lewis and Clark Village (town): about 101 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)

Missouri benefits

Qualifying Missouri veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability can receive a property tax credit for real estate taxes or rent.

Missouri offers survivor grants to eligible children and spouses of veterans rated at least 80 percent for qualifying combat injuries since September 11, 2001.

See every Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Buchanan County

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

Robert Pyatt

Attorney · Saint Joseph · MO · In your county

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59861

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

Your state: Missouri

Eileen Block

Claims agent · Platte City · MO · About 20 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 60957

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

Your state: Missouri

Andrew Hodges

Attorney · Liberty · MO · About 32 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 62438

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

Your state: Missouri

VA-accredited attorneys in Missouri

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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