Find veterans benefits contacts serving Smith County, Texas. Compare the listed providers and contact an office directly.
County veterans services
County veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the office for an appointment and ask what to bring.
3212 W Front St, Camp V, Tyler, TX 75702Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm; closed noon-1:00 pm.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Texas directory.
Smith County Veterans Service Office: Walk-ins are welcome; contact an officer to schedule for best assistance. Confirm the service location, hours and appointment with the provider before traveling.
2025 VCSO Directory (opens in a new tab) · Smith County current official resolution (opens in a new tab)
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 10,700, give or take 755 civilian veterans in Smith County.
By ACS estimates, Smith County has the 25th largest veteran population among Texas's 254 counties.
| Measure | Smith County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 26 percent below the Texas share; below the national share. | 36 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 11 percent below the Texas share; below the national share. | 19 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in Smith County number about 2,780, give or take 367; their 26 percent share is above Texas's 20 percent.
Smith County has about 952, give or take 231 veterans under 35, making up 9 percent of its veterans compared with 11 percent in Texas.
Smith County has about 1,260, give or take 279 women veterans; both the county and Texas round to a 12 percent share.
| Measure | Smith County | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $48,310 ± $3,920 | $58,337 ± $490 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $35,210 ± $939 | $39,496 ± $171 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 8.6% ± 4.8 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 35.3% ± 5.7 points | 31.1% ± 0.4 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 82.1% ± 5.1 points | 75.0% ± 0.5 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 3.0% ± 1.4 points | 4.7% ± 0.3 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 93.5% ± 4.4 points | 95.7% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 29.7% ± 2.7 points | 34.4% ± 0.4 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 11,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 12,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 4,922 veterans in Smith County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 820 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 538 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 635 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 1,491 |
| 100 percent | 1,438 |
FY2019: 3,235 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,687.
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 433 VA-backed home loans out of 4,564 home loans made in Smith County (9.5% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $352,000.
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 3,770, give or take 517) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 1,810, give or take 541).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $146.8 million in compensation and pension spending and about $79.9 million in medical care spending in Smith County for FY2025.
Overton Brooks Veterans' Administration Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
510 East Stoner Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101-4243
New-patient wait for mental health: 65 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 29 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 91 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Tyler Centennial VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
428 Centennial Parkway, Tyler, TX 75703-7166
New-patient wait for mental health: 12 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 111 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 9 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Mesquite Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
502 West Kearney Street, Suite 300, Mesquite, TX 75149
about 82 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Waco VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
701 Clay Avenue, One Veterans Plaza, Waco, TX 76799
about 123 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Smith County is Dallas VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Dallas, TX, about 91 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Outside Texas, in Shreveport, LA, Shreveport Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Smith County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 92 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Waco RO (station 349) and Houston RO (station 362); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
2000 Mountain Creek Parkway Dallas, TX 75211
214-467-3374
About 100.6 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen (opens in a new tab)
11463 S Hwy 195 Killeen, TX 76542
254-616-1770
About 173.3 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.
VA-recognized State Veterans Homes listed in VA's FY2025 per diem list, September 2024. VA State Home list (opens in a new tab).
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, Texas Balance of State (BoS) CoC counted 568 veterans experiencing homelessness (229 sheltered, 339 unsheltered).
TX-607 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 324 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 Overton Brooks Veterans' Administration Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 318-221-8411. 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 2 veterans treatment courts in Smith 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 Texas veterans rated 100 percent or paid at that rate through individual unemployability receive a full residence homestead property tax exemption.
Texas offers eligible spouses and dependents of veterans rated 100 percent permanent and total up to 150 credit hours of tuition exemption.
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.
Attorney · Tyler · TX · In your county
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Claim this profile, freeAttorney · Tyler · TX · In your county
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