Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Douglas County, Nebraska.
Douglas County has about 26,100 veterans, and by ACS estimates it has the 1st largest veteran population among Nebraska's 93 counties and equivalents. The Omaha VA Medical Center and Omaha Vet Center are each 10 miles from the county center in a straight line; the Sarpy County VA Clinic is 11 miles away. For free claims help, contact Benson Elmore, the county veterans service officer, and confirm availability before traveling. An accredited VSO representative can help with claims at no cost. The NDVA State Service Office also helps with benefits and claims; ask about phone or live-chat help and current appointments. Vietnam era only is the largest service era, with about 7,460 veterans, give or take 503. Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served.
Nebraska County Veterans Service Officers
County veterans service officer contact. Ask for appointment time and exact meeting location.
Area served: Douglas County.
Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Nebraska directory.
Nebraska publishes a county service-officer roster. Use the listed contact when available, or ask the NDVA State Service Office for current claims help. A shared officer may serve more than one county.
Official county or service directory (opens in a new tab) · Official county or service directory (opens in a new tab)
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) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 26,100, give or take 1,140 civilian veterans in Douglas County.
By ACS estimates, Douglas County has the 1st largest veteran population among Nebraska's 93 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Douglas County | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 32 percent below the Nebraska share; above the national share. | 38 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 11 percent below the Nebraska share; below the national share. | 13 percent | 13 percent |
Douglas County has about 5,940, give or take 368 veterans 75 and older, making up 23 percent of its veterans compared with 26 percent in Nebraska.
Veterans under 35 in Douglas County number about 2,630, give or take 398; their 10 percent share is above Nebraska's 9 percent.
Douglas County has about 2,560, give or take 390 women veterans; both the county and Nebraska round to a 10 percent share.
| Measure | Douglas County | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $58,010 ± $3,177 | $55,769 ± $1,431 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $45,378 ± $507 | $41,840 ± $259 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 7.7% ± 1.2 points | 6.3% ± 0.5 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 26.5% ± 1.7 points | 29.8% ± 0.7 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 78.8% ± 2.4 points | 81.2% ± 1.0 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 2.7% ± 1.1 points | 2.3% ± 0.5 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 96.5% ± 1.0 points | 96.0% ± 0.4 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 33.8% ± 1.7 points | 29.9% ± 1.0 points | 31.8% ± 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 22,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 28,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 9,676 veterans in Douglas County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 2,495 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 1,280 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 1,260 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 2,545 |
| 100 percent | 2,096 |
FY2019: 8,753 recipients. Change to FY2025: +923.
VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).
In 2025, lenders reported 1,013 VA-backed home loans out of 14,294 home loans made in Douglas County (7.1% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $347,000.
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).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 7,460, give or take 503) and post-9/11 only (about 5,520, give or take 580).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $225.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $240.6 million in medical care spending in Douglas County for FY2025.
Omaha VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
4101 Woolworth Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105-1850
New-patient wait for mental health: 79 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 55 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 10 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Sarpy County VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
1330 Jersey Street, Papillion, NE 68046-7109
New-patient wait for primary care: 62 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 11 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Omaha Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
2132 South 42nd Street, Suite 1, Omaha, NE 68105
about 10 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Lincoln VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
3800 Village Drive, Lincoln, NE 68516
about 46 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Douglas County is Grand Island VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Grand Island, NE, about 117 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Douglas County is Lincoln Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Lincoln, NE, about 41 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Lincoln RO (station 334); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Omaha National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
14250 Schram Road Omaha, NE 68138
402-253-3949
About 11.4 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island (opens in a new tab)
3270 W Capital Ave Grand Island, NE 68803
308-661-1987
About 118.3 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.
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.
On one night in January 2024, Omaha, Council Bluffs CoC counted 92 veterans experiencing homelessness (83 sheltered, 9 unsheltered).
NE-501 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 123 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 Omaha VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 402-346-8800. Ask for the homeless coordinator.
VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).
The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Douglas 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).
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.
For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)
Nebraska provides a homestead exemption for qualifying veterans rated 100 percent permanently disabled or 100 percent through individual unemployability, without income or value limits.
Nebraska waives public college tuition and tuition-related fees for eligible dependents of veterans rated 100 percent permanent and total from military service.
Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.
ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. The summary paragraph was drafted by AI from the facts on this page and checked automatically against them. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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