Marion County (Arkansas) Veterans Services

What it is. An Arkansas county veterans service officer is employed by the county judge and paid from the Quorum Court's budget, trained and accredited through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and partly reimbursed by the State under section 20-81-106: one dollar for every two the county spends, up to $3,600 a year, or $4,800 in a county with more than 2,500 veterans, plus $500 a quarter each for VA accreditation and for access to VA's benefits system; see the Arkansas entry on the Department and county service officers. Help with a claim is free. Marion County's page: "Our county veterans services officer assists veterans with all aspects of veterans benefits." It lists benefits counseling, compensation and pension claims, appeals, survivor and burial benefits, ordering and certifying DD-214s and military records, the "Tax Waiver Letter" for the State's disabled veteran exemption, discharge upgrades, Aid and Attendance and State Veterans Home admission. Who and when. Steven Rodriguez, Veteran Services Officer, Marion County Command Center, 491 Hwy 62 W., Yellville, AR 72687 (mail P.O. Box 545); 870-449-5401, fax 870-449-5402, [email protected]. Hours are Thursday and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (appointments 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.); appointments are recommended, and walk-ins wait behind them. The Department of Veterans Affairs' county finder (last updated August 19, 2026) gives the same officer, phone, email and days. Marion is in the Department's District 2, whose District Veterans Service Officer is Edward Skelton in the Fort Smith courthouse, (479) 387-6610. If you cannot get there. "If the veteran or surviving spouse is not physically able to drive to the office because of their disability, the Veterans Service Office work with other outreach service organizations to coordinate a ride", and if a family member can come in, the paperwork can be taken home for the veteran to sign. The budget and the Court. The 2026 budget, adopted December 8, 2025, gives Veterans Services (1000-0800) $31,915.89: $24,080.89 for one part-time officer at $19,570.00 with benefits, $4,300.00 for supplies and $3,535.00 for other charges. Steven Rodriguez was introduced to the Quorum Court as the new officer on February 11, 2025, and he reports to it each month; for September 2026 he logged 50 phone calls, 6 walk-ins or appointments, 8 claims submitted and 10 emails. The county's American Rescue Plan grants include $48,000.00 to the Palette Art League, in part to "expand and develop additional programs for veterans".