Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for McDowell in West Virginia.
West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to confirm how to get help.
Area served: McDowell County, Mercer County, Summers County, Wyoming County.
195 Davis Street Suite 123, Princeton, WV 24739Hours are not confirmed. Call before visiting.
The state benefits-office index assigns McDowell County to the listed office. Call before visiting; the office may be outside this county.
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 694, give or take 198 civilian veterans in McDowell County.
Among West Virginia's 55 counties and equivalents, McDowell County ranks 44th by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | McDowell County | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 46 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 20 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
Veterans 75 and older in McDowell County number about 215, give or take 91; their 31 percent share is above West Virginia's 27 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 0 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in McDowell County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 4 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in McDowell County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | McDowell County | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $45,673 ± $14,616 | $46,918 ± $1,173 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $19,858 ± $3,254 | $32,524 ± $334 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 10.3% ± 6.6 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 47.7% ± 14.5 points | 35.7% ± 1.0 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 40.5% ± 31.9 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 0.9% ± 26.7 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 84.4% ± 8.9 points | 93.8% ± 0.6 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 0.6% ± 1.0 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
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. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.
VA reports 285 veterans in McDowell County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 52 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 22 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 26 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 106 |
| 100 percent | 79 |
FY2019: 328 recipients. Change to FY2025: -43.
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 4 VA-backed home loans out of 46 home loans made in McDowell County (8.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $108,000.
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 309, give or take 152) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 138, give or take 112; a small survey sample; treat as rough).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $10.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $7.3 million in medical care spending in McDowell County for FY2025.
Beckley VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
200 Veterans Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801-6444
New-patient wait for mental health: 26 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 41 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 37 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Tazewell VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
388 Ben Bolt Avenue, Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital, Tazewell, VA 24651-9700
New-patient wait for primary care: 14 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 20 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Princeton Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
1511 North Walker Street, Princeton, WV 24740
about 31 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Huntington VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
640 4th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701
about 84 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to McDowell County is Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Huntington, WV, about 83 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to McDowell County is Beckley Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Beckley, WV, about 39 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Huntington RO (station 315); 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 84 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
130 Academy Dr Dunbar, WV 25064
304-746-0026
About 69.2 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, West Virginia Balance of State CoC counted 68 veterans experiencing homelessness (43 sheltered, 25 unsheltered).
WV-508 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 95 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 Beckley VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 304-255-2121. 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)
West Virginia homeowners rated 90 to 100 percent permanent and total may qualify for the Disabled Veteran Real Property Tax Credit.
West Virginia offers disabled veteran plates to qualifying veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total 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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