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Sanders County, MT Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Sanders County, Montana.

Offices for Sanders County

No local office is matched to Sanders County in this directory. Contact a state option below or an office in a nearby county to ask about help.

Shoshone County, ID

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Wallace

Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.

Area served: Shoshone County. Physical office: Wallace, Shoshone County.

700 Bank St., Suite 120, Wallace, ID 83873

Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; state advocate meeting usually first Thursday monthly.

Bonner County, ID

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Sandpoint

Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.

Area served: Bonner County.

521 S Division St., Suite 121, Sandpoint, ID 83864

Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday administrative staff may be present.

Help from anywhere in Montana

Getting help in Sanders County

Montana MVAD lists nine service offices but does not assign counties on its current contact page. Ask MVAD which office can help with this county and confirm the appointment and location.

Official county or service 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 Sanders County

The ACS estimates about 1,480, give or take 180 civilian veterans in Sanders County.

By ACS estimates, Sanders County has the 11th largest veteran population among Montana's 56 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureSanders CountyMontanaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating32 percent

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

32 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher11 percent

below the Montana share; below the national share.

12 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Sanders County number about 452, give or take 100; their 31 percent share is above Montana's 25 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Sanders County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Sanders County has about 109, give or take 49 women veterans, making up 7 percent of its veterans compared with 10 percent in Montana.

Income, work and education in Sanders County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureSanders CountyMontanaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$47,500 ± $10,038$49,430 ± $1,076$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$27,391 ± $1,837$38,147 ± $393$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over6.7% ± 2.7 points7.6% ± 0.8 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over51.8% ± 10.0 points32.1% ± 1.2 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6462.8% ± 10.2 points72.9% ± 1.3 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 10.2 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over96.6% ± 2.3 points96.7% ± 0.6 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over15.7% ± 5.5 points31.1% ± 1.5 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 slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 1,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Sanders County

VA reports 530 veterans in Sanders County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent97
30 to 40 percent50
50 to 60 percent57
70 to 90 percent180
100 percent146

FY2019: 349 recipients. Change to FY2025: +181.

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 Sanders County

In 2025, lenders reported 37 VA-backed home loans out of 205 home loans made in Sanders County (18.1% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $440,000.

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 746, give or take 164) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 183, give or take 73).

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

VA money in Sanders County

VA reported about $15.7 million in compensation and pension spending and about $12.4 million in medical care spending in Sanders County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Sanders County is Fort Harrison VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Fort Harrison, MT, about 165 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Sanders County is Missoula Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Missoula, MT, about 83 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Fort Harrison RO (station 436); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Tahoma National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
18600 SE 240th Street Kent, WA 98042
425-413-9614

About 323.2 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery - Missoula (opens in a new tab)
1911 Tower Rd Missoula, MT 59804
406-721-2995

About 81.5 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 Sanders County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Sanders 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, Montana Statewide CoC counted 168 veterans experiencing homelessness (113 sheltered, 55 unsheltered).

MT-500 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 205 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 Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 509-434-7000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Sanders 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 Sanders County

  • Thompson Falls (city): about 1,500 residents
  • Plains (town): about 1,195 residents
  • Hot Springs (town): about 557 residents
  • Heron (unincorporated community): about 328 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Dixon (unincorporated community): about 281 residents
More places (8)
  • Trout Creek (unincorporated community): about 252 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Noxon (unincorporated community): about 209 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Weeksville (unincorporated community): about 147 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Old Agency (unincorporated community): about 129 residents
  • Lonepine (unincorporated community): about 122 residents
  • Paradise (unincorporated community): about 76 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Camas (unincorporated community): about 34 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Belknap (unincorporated community): about 32 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)

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)

Montana benefits

For tax year 2027, qualifying Montana veterans rated 100 percent service-connected can receive property tax relief.

Montana operates 3 state veterans homes.

See every Montana 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 Montana 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 Sanders County

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

Jon McCarty

Attorney · Great Falls · MT · About 181 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 22144

4.9 · 27 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Montana

Joseph Norena

Attorney · Bozeman · MT · About 245 miles away

VA-accredited since 2020 · checked

VA accreditation number 49627

4.0 · 8 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Montana

Trevor Fonseth

Attorney · Great Falls · MT · About 181 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57337

4.9 · 27 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Montana

Brittney Mada

Attorney · Billings · MT · About 349 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 55903

3.0 · 12 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Montana

VA-accredited attorneys in Montana

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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