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New Hanover County, NC Veterans Service Office (VSO)

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for New Hanover in North Carolina.

You can get free claims help from an accredited VSO representative at the Wilmington Veterans Service Center; call first to confirm availability and appointment options before traveling. The VFW North Carolina department contact can connect you with an accredited service officer, but it is not a verified visit location. You can also use North Carolina’s official service directory to find a current claims representative. New Hanover County has the 10th largest veteran population among North Carolina’s 100 counties and equivalents, by ACS estimates. About 4,080 veterans served in the Vietnam era, give or take 455; Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. The Wilmington VA Clinic is 7 miles away, measured in a straight line from the center of the county. The state page has full benefit terms.

Offices for New Hanover County

Wilmington Veterans Service Center

North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
Wilmington

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

Area served: Bladen County, Brunswick County, Columbus County, New Hanover County, Onslow County, Pender County.

3205 Randall Pkwy, Suite 102, Wilmington, NC 28403

Hours are not confirmed. Call before visiting.

For statewide phone and remote help, see the North Carolina directory.

Getting help in New Hanover County

The state map assigns New Hanover County to the Wilmington 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 New Hanover County

The ACS estimates about 13,200, give or take 893 civilian veterans in New Hanover County.

By ACS estimates, New Hanover County has the 10th largest veteran population among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureNew Hanover CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating37 percent

above the North Carolina share; above the national share.

34 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher16 percent

below the North Carolina share; above the national share.

18 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in New Hanover County number about 3,660, give or take 326; their 28 percent share is above North Carolina's 23 percent.

New Hanover County has about 1,180, give or take 391 veterans under 35, making up 9 percent of its veterans compared with 10 percent in North Carolina.

New Hanover County has about 1,480, give or take 453 women veterans, making up 11 percent of its veterans compared with 12 percent in North Carolina.

Income, work and education in New Hanover County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureNew Hanover CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$64,038 ± $4,961$52,418 ± $511$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$40,582 ± $1,129$38,302 ± $191$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over4.0% ± 1.3 points7.3% ± 0.3 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over25.4% ± 2.9 points30.1% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6477.4% ± 5.9 points71.6% ± 0.7 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 644.8% ± 3.3 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over98.1% ± 0.9 points95.8% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over44.3% ± 4.0 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 14,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 15,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in New Hanover County

VA reports 6,001 veterans in New Hanover County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent982
30 to 40 percent618
50 to 60 percent675
70 to 90 percent1,868
100 percent1,858

FY2019: 4,584 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,417.

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 New Hanover County

In 2025, lenders reported 440 VA-backed home loans out of 6,562 home loans made in New Hanover County (6.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $448,000.

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 4,080, give or take 455) and post-9/11 only (about 2,640, give or take 615).

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

VA money in New Hanover County

VA reported about $173.9 million in compensation and pension spending and about $70.4 million in medical care spending in New Hanover County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to New Hanover County is Durham VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Durham, NC, about 140 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to New Hanover County is Jacksonville, NC Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Jacksonville, NC, about 49 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 108 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

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 46.5 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 New Hanover 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, Wilmington/Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender Counties CoC counted 35 veterans experiencing homelessness (19 sheltered, 16 unsheltered).

NC-506 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 27 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 New Hanover 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)

Veterans treatment courts in New Hanover County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in New Hanover 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).

Cities and towns in New Hanover County

  • Wilmington (city): about 120,805 residents
  • Murraysville (unincorporated community): about 16,339 residents
  • Myrtle Grove (unincorporated community): about 12,637 residents
  • Kings Grant (unincorporated community): about 9,003 residents
  • Ogden (unincorporated community): about 8,249 residents
More places (13)
  • Porters Neck (unincorporated community): about 7,654 residents
  • Carolina Beach (town): about 6,745 residents
  • Silver Lake (unincorporated community): about 6,563 residents
  • Wrightsboro (unincorporated community): about 6,287 residents
  • Northchase (unincorporated community): about 5,896 residents
  • Skippers Corner (unincorporated community): about 3,792 residents
  • Bayshore (unincorporated community): about 2,949 residents
  • Wrightsville Beach (town): about 2,665 residents
  • Kure Beach (town): about 2,466 residents
  • Sea Breeze (unincorporated community): about 1,849 residents
  • Castle Hayne (unincorporated community): about 897 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Hightsville (unincorporated community): about 397 residents
  • Blue Clay Farms (unincorporated community): about 94 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)

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. The summary paragraph was drafted by AI from the facts on this page and checked automatically against them. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near New Hanover County

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

Russell Johnson

Attorney · Wilmington · NC · In your county

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 58652

4.8 · 302 reviews · Firm rating

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Are you Russell Johnson? Update your details and see your referral activity.

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Send a consultation request to Russell Johnson

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

Your state: North Carolina

Kelly Shovelin

Attorney · Wilmington · NC · In your county

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 9974

5.0 · 190 reviews · Firm rating

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Send a consultation request to Kelly Shovelin

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

Your state: North Carolina

Lisa Salines-Mondello

Attorney · Wilmington · NC · In your county

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 14497

4.8 · 124 reviews · Firm rating

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Are you Lisa Salines-Mondello? Update your details and see your referral activity.

Claim this profile, free

Send a consultation request to Lisa Salines-Mondello

Your request goes straight to Lisa Salines-Mondello'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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