Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Howard County, Nebraska.
Nebraska County Veterans Service Officers
County veterans service officer contact. Ask for appointment time and exact meeting location.
Area served: Hall County, Howard County, Nance County, Sherman County.
Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
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 358, give or take 76 civilian veterans in Howard County.
By ACS estimates, Howard County has the 41st largest veteran population among Nebraska's 93 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Howard County | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 51 percent above the Nebraska share; above the national share. | 38 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 14 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
Veterans 75 and older in Howard County number about 99, give or take 36; their 28 percent share is above Nebraska's 26 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 5 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Howard County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 8 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Howard County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | Howard County | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $45,375 ± $10,584 | $55,769 ± $1,431 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $41,105 ± $2,920 | $41,840 ± $259 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 4.5% ± 5.9 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 42.0% ± 10.5 points | 29.8% ± 0.7 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 100.0% ± 0.0 points | 81.2% ± 1.0 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 0.0% ± 22.8 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 89.3% ± 6.3 points | 96.0% ± 0.4 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 14.3% ± 7.3 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
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. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.
VA reports 243 veterans in Howard County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 108 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 30 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 23 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 42 |
| 100 percent | 40 |
FY2019: 237 recipients. Change to FY2025: +6.
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 9 VA-backed home loans out of 129 home loans made in Howard County (7.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $256,000.
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 200, give or take 48) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 55, give or take 25).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $4.9 million in compensation and pension spending and about $5.5 million in medical care spending in Howard County for FY2025.
Grand Island VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
2201 North Broadwell Avenue, Grand Island, NE 68803-2153
New-patient wait for primary care: 46 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 21 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Norfolk VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
3204 Raasch Drive, Norfolk, NE 68701-3455
New-patient wait for primary care: 11 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 78 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Lincoln Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
211 South 84th Street, Lincoln, NE 68510
about 103 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 102 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Howard County is Omaha VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Omaha, NE, about 132 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Howard County is Lincoln Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Lincoln, NE, about 103 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Lincoln RO (station 334); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Fort McPherson National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
12004 S Spur 56A Maxwell, NE 69151
308-582-4433
About 105.5 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 20 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.
No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Howard 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, Nebraska Balance of State CoC counted 18 veterans experiencing homelessness (18 sheltered, 0 unsheltered).
NE-500 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.
The HUD workbook reports 31 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 Grand Island VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 308-382-3660. 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).
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. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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