Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for McDowell 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: Avery County, Burke County, Caldwell County, Cleveland County, McDowell County, Mitchell County, Polk County, Rutherford County.
305 East Union Street, Suite A135, Morganton, NC 28655Hours are not confirmed. Call before visiting.
The state map assigns McDowell County to the Morganton 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 2,760, give or take 376 civilian veterans in McDowell County.
Among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents, McDowell County ranks 59th by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | McDowell County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 32 percent below the North Carolina share; above the national share. | 34 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 12 percent below the North Carolina share; below the national share. | 18 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in McDowell County number about 808, give or take 122; their 29 percent share is above North Carolina's 23 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 8 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in McDowell County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
McDowell County has about 230, give or take 112 women veterans, making up 8 percent of its veterans compared with 12 percent in North Carolina.
| Measure | McDowell County | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $35,803 ± $5,791 | $52,418 ± $511 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $32,445 ± $2,051 | $38,302 ± $191 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 6.5% ± 3.2 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 39.6% ± 7.6 points | 30.1% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 62.2% ± 12.2 points | 71.6% ± 0.7 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 2.2% ± 6.6 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 95.3% ± 3.0 points | 95.8% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 16.3% ± 6.0 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 slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 3,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 1,119 veterans in McDowell County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 228 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 111 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 152 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 330 |
| 100 percent | 298 |
FY2019: 865 recipients. Change to FY2025: +254.
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 82 VA-backed home loans out of 876 home loans made in McDowell County (9.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $359,000.
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 1,080, give or take 211) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 529, give or take 182).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $30.7 million in compensation and pension spending and about $41.6 million in medical care spending in McDowell County for FY2025.
Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805-2087
New-patient wait for mental health: 18 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 26 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 25 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
2270 College Avenue, Suite 145, Forest City, NC 28043-2459
New-patient wait for mental health: 8 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 13 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 26 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Rutherford Vet Center Outstation (opens in a new tab)
145 College Ave, Suite B, Rutherfordton, NC 28139
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 105 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
Outside North Carolina, in Mountain Home, TN, James H. Quillen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is McDowell County's second-nearest medical center, about 47 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Outside North Carolina, in Johnson City, TN, Johnson City Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is McDowell County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 50 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Winston-Salem RO (station 318); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Mountain Home National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
215 Heroes Drive Mountain Home, TN 37684
423-979-3535
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 18 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 McDowell 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, 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 Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 828-298-7911. 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)
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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