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Craven County, NC Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Craven in North Carolina.

Offices for Craven County

Other offices serving Craven County

Kinston Veterans Service Center

North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
Kinston

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

Area served: Carteret County, Craven County, Duplin County, Greene County, Jones County, Lenoir County, Wayne County.

100 North Queen Street, Suite 209, Kinston, NC 28501

Hours are not confirmed. Call before visiting.

Help from anywhere in North Carolina

Getting help in Craven County

The state map assigns Craven County to the Kinston center. Call to confirm the current appointment options.

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 Craven County

The ACS estimates about 11,000, give or take 898 civilian veterans in Craven County.

By ACS estimates, Craven County has the 16th largest veteran population among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureCraven CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating43 percent

above the North Carolina share; above the national share.

34 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher22 percent

above the North Carolina share; above the national share.

18 percent13 percent

Craven County has about 2,220, give or take 227 veterans 75 and older, making up 20 percent of its veterans compared with 23 percent in North Carolina.

Craven County has about 1,090, give or take 307 veterans under 35; both the county and North Carolina round to a 10 percent share.

Women veterans in Craven County number about 1,630, give or take 346; their 15 percent share is above North Carolina's 12 percent.

Income, work and education in Craven County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureCraven CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$58,801 ± $3,860$52,418 ± $511$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$34,125 ± $1,714$38,302 ± $191$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.6% ± 2.9 points7.3% ± 0.3 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over28.8% ± 3.3 points30.1% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6474.2% ± 3.9 points71.6% ± 0.7 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 642.5% ± 2.0 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over98.0% ± 1.0 points95.8% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over29.7% ± 3.3 points32.2% ± 0.6 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 13,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 14,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Craven County

VA reports 7,162 veterans in Craven County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent938
30 to 40 percent715
50 to 60 percent853
70 to 90 percent2,204
100 percent2,452

FY2019: 5,373 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,789.

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 Craven County

In 2025, lenders reported 956 VA-backed home loans out of 3,084 home loans made in Craven County (31.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $310,000.

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 2,440, give or take 320) and post-9/11 only (about 2,430, give or take 406).

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

VA money in Craven County

VA reported about $215.9 million in compensation and pension spending and about $66.4 million in medical care spending in Craven County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Craven County is Durham VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Durham, NC, about 121 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Craven County is Jacksonville, NC Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Jacksonville, NC, about 30 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Winston-Salem RO (station 318); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Florence National Cemetery Annex (opens in a new tab)
1001 Stockade Drive Florence, SC 29506
843-669-8783

About 165 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Closer VA national cemetery for cremated remains only

Danville National Cemetery, VA (opens in a new tab)
721 Lee Street Danville, VA 24541
704-636-2661

About 164 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: cremation only.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
110 Montford Point Rd Jacksonville, NC 28541
910-347-4550

About 31.8 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 Craven County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

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, North Carolina Balance of State CoC counted 134 veterans experiencing homelessness (70 sheltered, 64 unsheltered).

NC-503 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 157 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 Fayetteville VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 910-488-2120. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Craven 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 Craven County

  • New Bern (city): about 32,734 residents
  • Havelock (city): about 17,691 residents
  • James City (unincorporated community): about 4,789 residents
  • Trent Woods (town): about 4,032 residents
  • Brices Creek (unincorporated community): about 3,415 residents
More places (8)
  • Fairfield Harbour (unincorporated community): about 2,948 residents
  • River Bend (town): about 2,874 residents
  • Neuse Forest (unincorporated community): about 2,671 residents
  • Cherry Branch (unincorporated community): about 1,684 residents
  • Vanceboro (town): about 1,030 residents
  • Cove City (town): about 504 residents
  • Bridgeton (town): about 427 residents
  • Dover (town): about 404 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)

North Carolina benefits

Qualifying North Carolina veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability receive a $45,000 homestead assessed value exemption.

North Carolina offers Class I-B scholarships to eligible children of veterans receiving compensation for a 100 percent wartime service-connected disability.

See every North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 Craven County

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

Carmella George

Claims agent · Sneads Ferry · NC · About 34 miles away

VA-accredited since 2018 · checked

VA accreditation number 44863

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

Your state: North Carolina

Kristen Swinson

Claims agent · Jacksonville · NC · About 34 miles away

VA-accredited since 2017 · checked

VA accreditation number 41661

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Your state: North Carolina

Brett DeSelms

Attorney · Jacksonville · NC · About 34 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57976

4.4 · 116 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: North Carolina

Winston McMillan

Attorney · Jacksonville · NC · About 34 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 56302

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

Your state: North Carolina

Edgar Johnson Jr.

Attorney · Kinston · NC · About 32 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 14438

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

Your state: North Carolina

VA-accredited attorneys in North Carolina

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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