Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Gaston in North Carolina.
North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to confirm how to get help.
Area served: Anson County, Cabarrus County, Gaston County, Mecklenburg County, Richmond County, Stanly County, Union County.
7508 E. Independence Blvd, Suite 119, Charlotte, NC 28227Hours are not confirmed. Call before visiting.
The state map assigns Gaston County to the Charlotte center. Call to confirm the current appointment options.
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 12,200, give or take 596 civilian veterans in Gaston County.
By ACS estimates, Gaston County has the 12th largest veteran population among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Gaston County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 25 percent below the North Carolina share; below the national share. | 34 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 14 percent below the North Carolina share; above the national share. | 18 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in Gaston County number about 2,960, give or take 293; their 24 percent share is above North Carolina's 23 percent.
Veterans under 35 in Gaston County number about 1,310, give or take 283; their 11 percent share is above North Carolina's 10 percent.
Gaston County has about 904, give or take 222 women veterans, making up 7 percent of its veterans compared with 12 percent in North Carolina.
| Measure | Gaston County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $48,565 ± $2,915 | $52,418 ± $511 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $37,321 ± $724 | $38,302 ± $191 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 7.9% ± 1.8 points | 7.3% ± 0.3 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 30.2% ± 3.4 points | 30.1% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 80.2% ± 3.7 points | 71.6% ± 0.7 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 2.0% ± 1.6 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 93.7% ± 1.8 points | 95.8% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 24.0% ± 3.2 points | 32.2% ± 0.6 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 12,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 13,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 4,496 veterans in Gaston County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 734 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 437 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 514 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 1,403 |
| 100 percent | 1,408 |
FY2019: 3,337 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,159.
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 563 VA-backed home loans out of 7,009 home loans made in Gaston County (8.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $368,000.
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 4,020, give or take 341) and post-9/11 only (about 2,250, give or take 337).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $135.7 million in compensation and pension spending and about $92.8 million in medical care spending in Gaston County for FY2025.
W.G. (Bill) Hefner Salisbury Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
1601 Brenner Avenue, Salisbury, NC 28144-2515
New-patient wait for mental health: 51 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 36 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 47 miles in a straight line from the county center.
South Charlotte VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
3506 West Tyvola Road, Charlotte, NC 28208-7201
New-patient wait for mental health: 23 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 34 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 16 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Charlotte Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
2114 Ben Craig Drive, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28262
about 23 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Winston-Salem VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
251 N. Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27155
about 76 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Gaston County is Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Asheville, NC, about 76 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Gaston County is Rutherford Vet Center Outstation (opens in a new tab) in Rutherfordton, NC, about 43 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Winston-Salem RO (station 318); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Salisbury National Cemetery Annex (opens in a new tab)
501 Statesville Boulevard Salisbury, NC 28144
704-636-2661
About 47.1 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
962 Old US 70 Hwy Black Mountain, NC 28711
828-669-0684
About 69.8 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.
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, Gastonia/Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln Counties CoC counted 13 veterans experiencing homelessness (3 sheltered, 10 unsheltered).
NC-509 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 6 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 W.G. (Bill) Hefner Salisbury Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 704-638-9000. 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 Gaston 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)
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.
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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