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Mercer County, WV Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Mercer in West Virginia.

Offices for Mercer County

Princeton Benefits Office

West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance

Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
Princeton

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 24739

Hours are not confirmed. Call before visiting.

For statewide phone and remote help, see the West Virginia directory.

Getting help in Mercer County

The state benefits-office index assigns Mercer County to the listed office. Call before visiting; the office may be outside this county.

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 Mercer County

The ACS estimates about 3,420, give or take 417 civilian veterans in Mercer County.

By ACS estimates, Mercer County has the 10th largest veteran population among West Virginia's 55 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureMercer CountyWest VirginiaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating44 percent

above the West Virginia share; above the national share.

31 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher27 percent

above the West Virginia share; above the national share.

14 percent13 percent

Mercer County has about 871, give or take 199 veterans 75 and older, making up 26 percent of its veterans compared with 27 percent in West Virginia.

Veterans under 35 account for 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Mercer County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Mercer County has about 114, give or take 56 women veterans, making up 3 percent of its veterans compared with 7 percent in West Virginia.

Income, work and education in Mercer County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureMercer CountyWest VirginiaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$50,183 ± $6,237$46,918 ± $1,173$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$29,413 ± $1,856$32,524 ± $334$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over4.2% ± 2.3 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over51.9% ± 6.6 points35.7% ± 1.0 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6462.9% ± 10.4 points67.7% ± 1.6 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 643.0% ± 5.8 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over95.0% ± 2.3 points93.8% ± 0.6 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over24.3% ± 6.3 points22.4% ± 1.0 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 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 disability compensation in Mercer County

VA reports 1,734 veterans in Mercer County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent361
30 to 40 percent161
50 to 60 percent158
70 to 90 percent562
100 percent492

FY2019: 1,687 recipients. Change to FY2025: +47.

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 Mercer County

In 2025, lenders reported 71 VA-backed home loans out of 684 home loans made in Mercer County (10.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $210,000.

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 1,300, give or take 253) and post-9/11 only (about 602, give or take 218).

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

VA money in Mercer County

VA reported about $52.8 million in compensation and pension spending and about $56.2 million in medical care spending in Mercer County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

Outside West Virginia, in Salem, VA, Salem VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Mercer County's second-nearest medical center, about 60 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Mercer County is Beckley Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Beckley, WV, about 26 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Huntington RO (station 315); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Mountain Home National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
215 Heroes Drive Mountain Home, TN 37684
423-979-3535

About 103 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
130 Academy Dr Dunbar, WV 25064
304-746-0026

About 76.3 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.

Cleanup and former military sites in Mercer County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Mercer 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, 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.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Mercer 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)

Cities and towns in Mercer County

  • Bluefield (city): about 9,387 residents
  • Princeton (city): about 5,736 residents
  • Bluewell (unincorporated community): about 1,992 residents
  • Athens (town): about 1,494 residents
  • Brush Fork (unincorporated community): about 1,096 residents
More places (5)
  • Lashmeet (unincorporated community): about 655 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Montcalm (unincorporated community): about 484 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Oakvale (town): about 254 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Bramwell (town): about 135 residents
  • Matoaka (unincorporated community): about 30 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)

West Virginia benefits

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.

See every West Virginia 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 West Virginia listings

Nearby counties

Sources and method

ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near Mercer County

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

Angela Lowe

Attorney · Charleston · WV · About 68 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 13561

4.6 · 325 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: West Virginia

Jessica Hacker

Claims agent · Parkesburg · WV · About 127 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 62106

4.6 · 513 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: West Virginia

Jessica Potter

Attorney · Parkersburg · WV · About 127 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 56997

4.6 · 513 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: West Virginia

Ashley Talbott

Claims agent · Morgantown · WV · About 164 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 8632

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Claim this profile, free

Send a consultation request to Ashley Talbott

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

Your state: West Virginia

VA-accredited attorneys in West Virginia

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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