Oregon VA Disability Benefits & Resources for Veterans

Oregon’s disabled veteran benefits start at lower ratings than in many states. A 25% rating gets you a free hunting and fishing license, a 40% rating opens a property tax exemption, and any service-connected rating qualifies you for free state park camping. The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) also runs its own state veteran home loan program, which is separate from the VA home loan.

State benefit details verified against official state sources on September 27, 2026.

Key Oregon Benefits at a Glance

Property Tax: Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Exemption

Oregon exempts part of your homestead’s assessed value. It applies to the home first, then to any taxable personal property. The Oregon Department of Revenue’s January 2026 publication lists two amounts, and both rise 3% each year:

• $32,512: the veteran’s service-connected disabilities are certified at 40% or more by VA or a branch of the Armed Forces. Also available to a surviving spouse or partner if the veteran died of a service-connected injury or illness, or had received this larger exemption for at least one year.
• $27,092: the veteran’s disabilities are certified at 40% or more by VA or the military. Also available when a licensed physician certifies the disability each year, but that route has an income limit of 185% of the federal poverty guideline. Also available to any unremarried surviving spouse or registered domestic partner of a veteran, even if the veteran was not disabled.

The VA and military certification routes have no income limit. You must own and live in the home.

How to apply:

1. Complete form 150-303-086, the Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Exemption Claim.
2. Attach:
   • your DD-214 or other proof of honorable discharge
   • a disability certificate from VA or the military dated within three years, or a physician’s certificate updated yearly
   • for spouses, the marriage or partnership certificate and the veteran’s death certificate
3. File with your county assessor by April 1 before the tax year you are claiming. If you bought the home between March 1 and July 1, file within 30 days of purchase.
4. You don’t need to refile each year unless a physician certifies your disability or your ownership or use of the home changes.
5. If VA certifies your 40%+ rating years after your exam, you can claim up to three prior tax years. File within six months of the notice.

Oregon Income Tax

• Military retirement: Oregon generally taxes it. You can subtract federal pension income, including military retirement, only for service before October 1, 1991:
  • all of it if all your service was before that date
  • a percentage if your service spans the date
  • none if all your service was after
• VA disability compensation: It is not included in federal income, so Oregon does not tax it.

Vehicles, Parks, and Hunting and Fishing

• Disabled veteran registration (ORS 805.100):
  • Who qualifies: Veterans with an honorable discharge, at least 90 consecutive days of service (or an earlier discharge for a service-connected injury), and a letter from VA or the military certifying them as a disabled veteran.
  • Cost: A one-time registration fee, with no renewals or renewal fees.
  • Plates: Permanent disabled veteran plates cost only the regular plate fees.
• Oregon State Parks Special Access Pass:
  • Who qualifies: Oregon veterans with any service-connected disability.
  • What it covers: Free parking at day-use fee parks, and free tent, RV, and standard horse campsites for up to four nights per park stay and four nights per calendar month.
  • Not covered: Yurts, cabins, the $10 reservation fee, or the charge for a second vehicle.
  • How to apply: Use Oregon State Parks’ online form with your VA letter and Oregon ID. The pass is valid for 10 years.
• Hunting and fishing (ODFW):
  • Who qualifies: Oregon residents with a disability rating of at least 25%.
  • What you get: A free combination license covering hunting, fishing, and shellfish, plus the Columbia River Basin Endorsement. You also qualify for a discounted elk tag.
  • How to apply: First-time applicants mail or fax ODFW an application with their VA rating letter. Renewals can be done online or at a license vendor.

Education

• Veterans Educational Bridge Grant: ODVA grants of up to $5,000 for veterans who can’t finish an academic or training program on time. Examples include a required class being unavailable, or a student-account debt that blocks registration. Eligibility is set in OAR Chapter 274.
• Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance: Covers 100% of tuition, up to the resident rate, at Oregon public universities and community colleges for eligible Oregon Army and Air National Guard members.

Oregon Veteran Home Loan

ODVA’s home loan program is a state benefit, separate from the federal VA Home Loan Guaranty. ODVA says Oregon is one of only three states with such a program, and that it has made about $10 billion in loans to more than 340,000 veterans since 1945. The program offers:

• fixed-rate, purchase-only loans for owner-occupied single-family homes
• loans up to the Fannie Mae limit
• up to four loans over a lifetime

Call (800) 633-6826 for the home loan program.

Oregon Veterans’ Homes

Both homes require a physician’s recommendation that skilled nursing care is needed:

• Oregon Veterans’ Home - The Dalles (opened 1997)
• Edward C. Allworth Veterans’ Home - Lebanon (opened 2014)

State Employment Preference

Under ORS 408.230, public employers add 5 percentage points for veterans and 10 percentage points for disabled veterans. The points apply to the initial application screening and to scored exams. When an exam doesn’t produce a score, such as an interview, the employer must still give veterans special consideration. A qualified veteran whose score plus preference equals or beats a non-veteran’s must be appointed.

VA Regional Office and Medical Centers

Portland VA Regional Benefit Office 100 SW Main Street, Floor 2, Portland, OR 97204

VA medical centers in Oregon:

• Portland VA Medical Center, Portland
• Roseburg VA Medical Center, Roseburg
• White City VA Medical Center, White City (VA Southern Oregon)

Community clinics include:

• Eugene
• Salem
• Hillsboro
• Bend (Robert D. Maxwell Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic)
• Astoria
• Newport
• North Bend
• Brookings
• Grants Pass
• Klamath Falls

Use the VA facility locator to find the one nearest you.

Filing a Federal VA Claim

The federal claims process is the same in every state. Start with How to File a VA Claim, track it at Check Your Claim Status, and see what you may be paid at 2026 VA Disability Rates. For free help, use ODVA’s directory to locate a county or tribal veteran service office or call ODVA at (800) 692-9666.

Crisis Support

Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255.