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Thurston County, NE Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Thurston County, Nebraska.

Offices for Thurston County

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

Getting help in Thurston County

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)

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 Thurston County

The ACS estimates about 243, give or take 44 civilian veterans in Thurston County.

Among Nebraska's 93 counties and equivalents, Thurston County ranks 58th by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureThurston CountyNebraskaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating18 percent

below the Nebraska share; below the national share.

38 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher9 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in Thurston County number about 94, give or take 32; their 39 percent share is above Nebraska's 26 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 0 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Thurston County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 13 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Thurston County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Thurston County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureThurston CountyNebraskaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$32,917 ± $17,374; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$37,023 ± $2,158$41,840 ± $259$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over6.2% ± 6.5 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over27.0% ± 11.6 points29.8% ± 0.7 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6463.3% ± 16.9 points81.2% ± 1.0 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 6412.9% ± 21.2 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over93.4% ± 7.7 points96.0% ± 0.4 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over22.2% ± 8.6 points29.9% ± 1.0 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. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Thurston County

VA reports 80 veterans in Thurston County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent25
30 to 40 percent10
50 to 60 percent12
70 to 90 percent21
100 percent12

FY2019: 66 recipients. Change to FY2025: +14.

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 Thurston County

In 2025, lenders reported 3 VA-backed home loans out of 45 home loans made in Thurston County (6.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $215,000.

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 77, give or take 38; a small survey sample; treat as rough) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 46, give or take 18).

VA money in Thurston County

VA reported about $1.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $1.3 million in medical care spending in Thurston County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

Outside Nebraska, in Sioux Falls, SD, Royal C. Johnson Veterans' Memorial Hospital (opens in a new tab) is Thurston County's second-nearest medical center, about 96 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Thurston County is Omaha Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Omaha, NE, about 70 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Lincoln RO (station 334); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Omaha National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
14250 Schram Road Omaha, NE 68138
402-253-3949

About 73.5 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island (opens in a new tab)
3270 W Capital Ave Grand Island, NE 68803
308-661-1987

About 126.7 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 Thurston County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Thurston 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, 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 Omaha VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 402-346-8800. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Thurston 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 Thurston County

  • Pender (village): about 1,379 residents
  • Winnebago (village): about 1,058 residents
  • Walthill (village): about 812 residents
  • Macy (unincorporated community): about 637 residents
  • Rosalie (village): about 247 residents
More places (1)
  • Thurston (village): about 100 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)

Nebraska benefits

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.

See every Nebraska 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 Nebraska 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 Thurston County

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

Jennifer Collier

Attorney · Lincoln · NE · About 478 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59969

4.9 · 2600 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Nebraska

Eric Smith

Attorney · Omaha · NE · About 62 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 56798

4.9 · 5064 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Nebraska

Carolina Doney

Attorney · Lincoln · NE · About 95 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59890

4.9 · 2565 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Nebraska

James Willard

Attorney · Lincoln · NE · About 95 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59907

4.9 · 2561 reviews · Firm rating

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Send a consultation request to James Willard

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

Your state: Nebraska

VA-accredited attorneys in Nebraska

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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