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

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

Offices for Nicholas County

Summersville Benefits Office

West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance

Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
Summersville

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

Area served: Braxton County, Clay County, Nicholas County, Webster County.

848 Northside Drive, Summersville, WV 26651

Hours are not confirmed. Call before visiting.

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

Getting help in Nicholas County

The state benefits-office index assigns Nicholas 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 Nicholas County

The ACS estimates about 1,460, give or take 273 civilian veterans in Nicholas County.

By ACS estimates, Nicholas County has the 23rd largest veteran population among West Virginia's 55 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureNicholas 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 higher20 percent

above the West Virginia share; above the national share.

14 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Nicholas County number about 507, give or take 121; their 35 percent share is above West Virginia's 27 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 2 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Nicholas County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 9 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Nicholas County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Nicholas County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureNicholas CountyWest VirginiaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$34,758 ± $9,281$46,918 ± $1,173$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$28,527 ± $2,497$32,524 ± $334$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over5.4% ± 4.8 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over35.1% ± 11.4 points35.7% ± 1.0 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6467.1% ± 15.7 points67.7% ± 1.6 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 642.7% ± 9.5 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over88.4% ± 5.2 points93.8% ± 0.6 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over17.8% ± 6.5 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 1,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Nicholas County

VA reports 851 veterans in Nicholas County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent176
30 to 40 percent102
50 to 60 percent87
70 to 90 percent270
100 percent216

FY2019: 722 recipients. Change to FY2025: +129.

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 Nicholas County

In 2025, lenders reported 26 VA-backed home loans out of 327 home loans made in Nicholas County (8.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $233,000.

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 598, give or take 161) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 249, give or take 157; 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 money in Nicholas County

VA reported about $24.5 million in compensation and pension spending and about $22.6 million in medical care spending in Nicholas County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Nicholas County is Louis A. Johnson Veterans' Administration Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Clarksburg, WV, about 72 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Nicholas County is Beckley Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Beckley, WV, about 41 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

West Virginia National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
42 Veterans Memorial Lane Grafton, WV 26354
304-265-2044

About 82 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 52.4 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 Nicholas County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Nicholas 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 Nicholas 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 Nicholas County

  • Summersville (city): about 3,373 residents
  • Richwood (city): about 2,403 residents
  • Craigsville (unincorporated community): about 2,190 residents
  • Tioga (unincorporated community): about 577 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Nettie (unincorporated community): about 183 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
More places (4)
  • Dixie (unincorporated community): about 56 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Belva (unincorporated community): about 17 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Fenwick (unincorporated community): about 16 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Birch River (unincorporated community): about 7 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 Nicholas County

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

Angela Lowe

Attorney · Charleston · WV · About 40 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 13561

4.6 · 325 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: West Virginia

Andrew Paternostro

Attorney · Charleston · WV · About 40 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57974

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Your state: West Virginia

Andrew Marshall

Attorney · Charleston · WV · About 40 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 58653

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Your state: West Virginia

Schuyler Olt

Attorney · Lewisburg · WV · About 32 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 62101

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Send a consultation request to Schuyler Olt

Your request goes straight to Schuyler Olt'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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