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Veteran Assistance  

Buncombe County Veterans Service Office offers assistance to our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families in obtaining a wide range of services.

Veterans Service Office Assists in the Following areas:

  • Disability Benefits Education & Training Benefits
  • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
  • Home Loans
  • Burial Benefits
  • Dependents' and Survivors' Benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Health Care
  • Military Records Retrieval

Who is Eligible?

You may be eligible for VA health care benefits if you are a veteran.

You may be eligible for other VA benefits if you are:

  • a veteran
  • a veteran's dependent
  • a surviving spouse or child of a deceased veteran
  • a member of the Reserves or National Guard
  • an Active Duty service member

Disability Benefits

The Veterans Administration administers two disability programs. Both pay monthly benefits to disabled veterans.

  • Disability Compensation: You may be entitled to receive compensation if you are at least 10% disabled as a result of your military service.
  • Disability Pension: May apply if you are a wartime veteran with limited income and you are no longer able to work.

Time Limits: There is no deadline for applying for disability benefits.

Education and Training

Benefits are available to eligible veterans, dependents, reservists, and service members while they are in an approved training program. Our major programs are:

  • Montgomery GI Bill persons who first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, are generally eligible. Some Vietnam Era veterans and certain veterans separated under special programs are also eligible. The bill also includes a program for certain reservists and National Guard members.
  • Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) This program is for veterans who entered active duty for the first time after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985, and contributed to a training fund.
  • Survivor's & Dependent's Educational Assistance Some family members of disabled or deceased veterans are eligible for education benefits.
    Time Limits: Generally, veterans have 10 years from the date they were last released from active duty to use their education benefits. Reservists generally have 10 years from the date they became eligible for the program unless they leave the Selected Reserves before completing their obligation. Spouses generally have 10 years from the date the VA first finds them eligible. Children are generally eligible from age 18 until age 26. These time limits can sometimes be extended.

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

Are available to certain service-connected disabled veterans who are unable to get and keep suitable employment. Some of the services the VA provides are:

  • Employment and case management services
  • Vocational and Rehabilitation counseling
  • Payment of training costs
  • Monthly payments to help with living expenses
  • Medical and dental treatment, if needed, to complete your program

Time Limits: You generally have 12 years from the date the VA tells you in writing that you have at least a 10 percent rating for a service-connected disability. You may have longer if certain conditions prevent you from training or if you have a serious employment handicap.

Home Loans

The Veterans Administration offers a number of home loan services to eligible veterans, some military personnel, and certain spouses.

  • Guaranteed Loans The VA can guarantee part of a loan from a private lender to help you buy a home, a manufactured home, a lot for a manufactured home, or certain types of condominiums. The VA also guarantees loans for building, repairing, and improving homes.
  • Refinancing Loans If you have a VA mortgage, the VA can help you refinance your loan at a lower interest rate. You may also refinance a non-VA loan.
  • Special Grants Certain disabled veterans can receive grants to have their homes specially adapted to their needs.

Burial Benefits

The Veterans Administration offers certain benefits and services to honor our Nation's deceased veterans.

  • Headstones and Markers The VA   can furnish a monument to mark the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran.
  • Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) May be provided to eligible recipients.
  • Burial Flag to drape an eligible veteran's casket.
  • Reimbursement of Burial Expenses. Generally, a burial allowance of up to $2,000 for veterans who die of service-related causes. For certain other veterans, $300 payment towards burial and funeral expenses and $300 for a plot.
  • Burial in a VA National Cemetery Most veterans and some dependents can be buried in a VA national cemetery.

Time Limits: There is no time limit for claiming reimbursement of burial expenses for a service-related death. In other cases, claims must be filed within 2 years of the veteran's burial.

Dependent's and Survivor's Benefits

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) may be payable to survivors of:

  • Service members who die on active duty
  • Veterans who died from service-related disabilities
  • Certain veterans who were being paid 100% VA disability compensation at time of death

Death Pension is payable to some surviving spouses and children of deceased wartime veterans. The benefit is based on financial need.

VA Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) shares the cost of medical services for eligible dependents and survivors of certain veterans.

Time Limits: There are no time limits for applying for the benefits described above.

Health Care

The Veterans Administration provides a number of health care services.

  • Hospital, outpatient medical, dental, pharmacy and prosthetic services
  • Domiciliary, nursing home, and community-based residential care
  • Sexual trauma counseling
  • Specialized health care for women veterans
  • Health and rehabilitation programs for homeless veterans
  • Readjustment counseling
  • Alcohol and drug dependency treatment
  • Medical evaluation for military service exposure, including Gulf War, Agent Orange, radiation, or other environmental hazards.

Life Insurance

Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) is low-cost term life insurance for service members and reservists. Generally, coverage begins when you enter the service. It is available in amounts up to $200,000. Generally, it expires 120 days after you get out of the service.

Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is renewable five-year term life insurance for veterans. It is available in amounts up to $200,000. You may apply any time within 1 year from the date your SGLI expires.

Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance also called "RH" Insurance, is life insurance for service-disabled veterans. The basic coverage is $10,000. If your premium payments for the basic policy are waived, you may be eligible for a supplemental policy of up to $20,000. Generally, you have 2 years after being notified of your service-connected disability to apply for basic coverage

How to Apply

We offer assistance at our office at 199 College Street. You can park for free in marked spaces on College Street near our office.

Call (828) 250-5726 for an appointment and for information about the type of documentation needed for your application. Don’t hesitate to call if you are unable to visit the office. We will find a way to assist you.

If you desire to do so, the Department of Veterans Affairs has an online application service available at VA.gov. Choose the Veteran Online Application (VONAPP) link, and follow the directions to submit your claim.

How much does it cost

The County Veterans Service Office is funded by Buncombe County and the State of North Carolina. There is no charge to our clients.

Toll-Free Service Benefits Information and Assistance
Each VA benefit has its own eligibility requirements. For more information about specific benefits, you may visit the nearest VA office or call: 1-800-827-1000

Special Toll-Free Numbers

Health Benefits 877-222-8387
Education Benefits 888-442-4551
VA Life Insurance 800-669-8477
Office of SGLI 800-419-1473
CHAMPVA 800-733-8387
Gulf War 800-749-8387
Headstones (status of claims only) 800-697-6947
Telecommunication - Device for Deaf (TDD) 800-829-4833
Direct Deposit 877-838-2778