## Chapter 3. Transportation Allowance {#chapter-3.-transportation-allowance .unnumbered}

#### 1. Eligibility Criteria

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Prior to authorizing payment for the transportation   |
| Introducti | > allowance, eligibility must be determined.            |
| on {#intro |                                                         |
| duction .u | > This topic contains information on factors that       |
| nnumbered} | > affect eligibility for the transportation allowance,  |
|            | > including                                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   location of death, and                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   burial in a national cemetery.                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > August 14, 2006                                       |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > VA may authorize the cost of transporting the         |
| ### a. Loc | > veteran's body to the place of burial if the          |
| ation of D | > veteran's death was nonservice-connected and occurred |
| eath {#a.- | > while                                                 |
| location-o |                                                         |
| f-death .u | -   en route for VA authorized examination, treatment,  |
| nnumbered} |     or care                                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   properly hospitalized at a medical center,          |
|            |     domiciliary, or nursing home under the direct       |
|            |     jurisdiction of VA                                  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   receiving nursing home care authorized under [38    |
|            |     U.S.C.                                              |
|            |     1720](http://www.law.cornell.edu                    |
|            | /uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00001720----000-.html) |
|            |     in a non-VA facility, or                            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   a patient at an approved State nursing home ([38    |
|            |     U.S.C.                                              |
|            |     2303(a)(1)(B)](http://www.law.cornell.edu/          |
|            | uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00002303----000-.html)) |
|            |     and death occurred on or after October 9, 1996.     |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     > ***Reference***: For information on approved      |
|            |     > State nursing homes, see M21-1 MR, Part VII, 6.1. |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > VA may authorize reimbursement of the cost of         |
| b. Burial  | > transporting the veteran's body to the place of       |
| in a Natio | > burial if the veteran is buried in a national         |
| nal Cemete | > cemetery and either                                   |
| ry {#b.-bu |                                                         |
| rial-in-a- | -   died of a SC condition                              |
| national-c |                                                         |
| emetery .u | -   had a SC condition at the time of death for which   |
| nnumbered} |     he/she was receiving disability compensation, or    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   was receiving military retired pay or VA pension at |
|            |     the time of death in lieu of disability             |
|            |     compensation.                                       |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 2. Required Evidence

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on the evidence       |
| troduction | > required by VA to develop claims for the              |
|  {#introdu | > transportation allowance, including                   |
| ction-1 .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} | -   application requirements, and                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   statement of account requirements.                  |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > April 26, 2005                                        |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > *VA Form 21-530* must                                 |
| a. Applica |                                                         |
| tion Requi | -   be fully completed                                  |
| rements {# |                                                         |
| a.-applica | -   contain the signature of the claimant, and          |
| tion-requi |                                                         |
| rements .u | -   contain the signature of the individual who         |
| nnumbered} |     authorized the service, if the claimant provided    |
|            |     the service.                                        |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > A statement of account identifying the charges for    |
| ### b. Sta | > transporting the body is required.                    |
| tement of  | >                                                       |
| Account Re | > ***Reference***: For more information on required     |
| quirements | > evidence, see M21-1 MR, Part VII, 1.C.8.              |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 3. Transportation Payable

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > Prior to awarding the transportation allowance, the   |
| troduction | > amount payable must be determined.                    |
|            | >                                                       |
|            | > This topic contains information on                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   priority of payment                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   sharing expenses between the veteran's estate and   |
|            |     another party                                       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   inclusion of taxes in calculating transportation    |
|            |     costs                                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   payment for                                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   "charge for pickup of remains"                      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   an escort accompanying the remains, and             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   transportation when death occurs in a nursing home, |
|            |     and                                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   variations in transportation billing methods.       |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > August 14, 2006                                       |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > When the transportation allowance is payable, in      |
| a. Priorit | > addition to the statutory burial allowance, reimburse |
| y of Payme | > the person who paid the cost of transportation,       |
| nt {#a.-pr | > regardless of whether or not expenses associated with |
| iority-of- | > burial, funeral services, plot, or interment have     |
| payment .u | > been paid.                                            |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### b.   | > In some cases, a portion of the expenses for          |
| Sharing of | > transportation of the veteran's body are paid from    |
|  Expenses  | > the veteran's estate, or prepaid by him/her prior to  |
| Between th | > death, while the remainder is paid by another person. |
| e Veteran' |                                                         |
| s Estate a | > In this situation, payment of the transportation      |
| nd Another | > allowance to that other person has priority over      |
|  Party {#b | > payment to the veteran's estate.                      |
| .-sharing- |                                                         |
| of-expense | > ***Reference***: For more information on priority of  |
| s-between- | > payments, see M21-1 MR, Part VII, 1.D.12.             |
| the-vetera |                                                         |
| ns-estate- |                                                         |
| and-anothe |                                                         |
| r-party .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

3\. Transportation Payable, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > In determining the amount of reimbursement payable    |
| c. Inclusi | > for transportation expenses, include Federal taxes    |
| on of Taxe | > charged by a common carrier.                          |
| s in Calcu |                                                         |
| lating Tra | > ***Reference***: For more information on inclusion of |
| nsportatio | > taxes in calculating transportation costs, see [38    |
| n Costs {# | > CFR                                                   |
| c.-inclusi | > 3.1606(a)(6)](http://ww                               |
| on-of-taxe | w.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1606.DOC). |
| s-in-calcu |                                                         |
| lating-tra |                                                         |
| nsportatio |                                                         |
| n-costs .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### d. P | > VA allows payment of the "*charge for pickup of       |
| ayment for | > remains*" on a round-trip or flat-charge basis. This  |
|  "Charge f | > charge must not exceed the charges customarily made   |
| or Pickup  | > to the general public.                                |
| of Remains |                                                         |
| " {#d.-pay | > ***Reference***: For more information on payment for  |
| ment-for-c | > "*charge of pickup of remains*," see [38 CFR          |
| harge-for- | > 3.1606(a)](http://ww                                  |
| pickup-of- | w.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1606.DOC). |
| remains .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### e. P | > If the veteran dies while receiving properly          |
| ayment for | > authorized VA care, the body is shipped to the place  |
|  an Escort | > of burial by rail, and the charge for transporting    |
|  Accompany | > the body is the cost of two first class tickets, VA   |
| ing the Re | > authorizes an attendant or escort to travel on one of |
| mains {#e. | > the two required fares, but not if a third fare is    |
| -payment-f | > required for the escort.                              |
| or-an-esco |                                                         |
| rt-accompa | > The cost or return fare for the attendant or escort   |
| nying-the- | > is not a proper charge against the burial allowance   |
| remains .u | > although it and the third fare charge, when required, |
| nnumbered} | > may be payable from accrued benefits due as           |
|            | > reimbursement.                                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Note***: It is not necessary that the body be      |
|            | > shipped on a Government bill of lading.               |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

3\. Transportation Payable, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > Nursing home care in a VA facility, or in a non-VA    |
| ### f. Pay | > facility under VA contract, constitutes               |
| ment for T | > hospitalization by VA.                                |
| ransportat |                                                         |
| ion when D | > In this situation, pay the cost of transporting the   |
| eath Occur | > body in addition to the burial allowance.             |
| s in a Nur |                                                         |
| sing Home  | > ***References***: For more information on             |
| {#f.-payme |                                                         |
| nt-for-tra | -   hospitalization by VA, see [38 CFR                  |
| nsportatio |     3.1605](http://ww                                   |
| n-when-dea | w.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1605.DOC). |
| th-occurs- |                                                         |
| in-a-nursi | -   facilities under VA contract, see [38 U.S.C.        |
| ng-home .u |     1720](http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/            |
| nnumbered} | uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00001720----000-.html). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > In some cases, the bill or receipt for transportation |
| g. Variati | > may show either                                       |
| ons in Tra |                                                         |
| nsportatio | -   a lump-sum charge, which includes both              |
| n Billing  |                                                         |
| Methods {# | ```{=html}                                              |
| g.-variati | <!-- -->                                                |
| ons-in-tra | ```                                                     |
| nsportatio | -   pickup and transportation of the remains to the     |
| n-billing- |     funeral home or church, and                         |
| methods .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} | -   transportation from the funeral home or church to   |
|            |     the cemetery, or                                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   the transportation charges on separate bills or     |
|            |     receipts.                                           |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     > In this situation, pay the entire amount as       |
|            |     > reimbursement without additional development per  |
|            |     > [38 CFR                                           |
|            |     > 3.1606(a)(7)](http://ww                           |
|            | w.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1606.DOC). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 4. Partial Payment while Developing Transportation Costs

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > This topic contains information on making partial     |
| troduction | > payment of burial benefits while developing           |
|  {#introdu | > transportation costs when                             |
| ction-3 .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} | -   no specific charge for transportation is shown      |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   a breakdown of the transportation charges are       |
|            |     needed, and                                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   basic eligibility to the transportation allowance   |
|            |     exists and death is service-connected (SC).         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > April 26, 2005                                        |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ####       | > In some situations, the funeral director may submit a |
| # a. Parti | > supporting statement of account that makes reference  |
| al Payment | > to the use of a hearse, or other term related to      |
|  when No S | > transportation, without reporting a specific          |
| pecific Tr | > transportation charge.                                |
| ansportati |                                                         |
| on Charge  | > In this case, ask the claimant to submit an itemized  |
| Is Shown { | > statement showing the                                 |
| #a.-partia |                                                         |
| l-payment- | -   charge for each removal of the body, and            |
| when-no-sp |                                                         |
| ecific-tra | -   points between which transportation was furnished,  |
| nsportatio |     such as a hospital, cemetery, funeral home, and so  |
| n-charge-i |     on.                                                 |
| s-shown .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ####       | > In some situations, VA needs a breakdown of the       |
| # b. Parti | > transportation charges before reimbursement can be    |
| al Payment | > made.                                                 |
|  when a Br |                                                         |
| eakdown of | > In this case                                          |
|  the Trans |                                                         |
| portation  | -   award the burial allowance without delay on the     |
| Charges Ar |     basis of the other unquestioned items appearing on  |
| e Needed { |     the supporting statement of account                 |
| #b.-partia |                                                         |
| l-payment- | -   inform the claimant of the                          |
| when-a-bre |                                                         |
| akdown-of- | ```{=html}                                              |
| the-transp | <!-- -->                                                |
| ortation-c | ```                                                     |
| harges-are | -   action taken                                        |
| -needed .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} | -   evidence reviewed                                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   reason for partial payment, and                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   additional documentation needed (breakdown of       |
|            |     transportation charges), and                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   pay the transportation allowance upon timely        |
|            |     receipt of the requested evidence.                  |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

4\. Partial Payment while Developing Transportation Costs, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > When basic eligibility to the transportation          |
| c. Partial | > allowance exists and death is SC, but the statement   |
|  Payment w | > of account does not show a cost for transportation or |
| hen Basic  | > the bill is not itemized, then                        |
| Eligibilit |                                                         |
| y to Trans | -   award the full amount of the burial allowance, if   |
| portation  |     the total cost of the funeral equals or exceeds     |
| Allowance  |     that amount                                         |
| Exists and |                                                         |
|  Death Is  | -   request a statement from the funeral director as to |
| Service-Co |     whether or not a charge was made for                |
| nnected {# |     transportation, and                                 |
| c.-partial |                                                         |
| -payment-w | -   when the funeral director returns the statement,    |
| hen-basic- |     pay the allowable transportation charge, if any,    |
| eligibilit |     *only* if                                           |
| y-to-trans |                                                         |
| portation- | ```{=html}                                              |
| allowance- | <!-- -->                                                |
| exists-and | ```                                                     |
| -death-is- | -   burial occurred in a national cemetery, or          |
| service-co |                                                         |
| nnected .u | -   death was in a VA medical center (VAMC) and burial  |
| nnumbered} |     expenses do *not* exceed the statutory burial       |
|            |     allowance.                                          |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     > ***Examples***:                                   |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   If entitlement exists because burial is in a        |
|            |     national cemetery and death is SC, pay the          |
|            |     statutory allowance plus allowable transportation.  |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   If entitlement exists because death occurred in a   |
|            |     VAMC and death is SC, payment of burial and         |
|            |     transportation *cannot* exceed the statutory        |
|            |     allowance.                                          |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 5. Excessive Charges

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > In some situations, a claim is submitted for          |
| troduction | > reimbursement of transportation charges that appear   |
|  {#introdu | > to be excessive.                                      |
| ction-4 .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} | > This topic contains information on                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   excessive charges claimed by a funeral director,    |
|            |     and                                                 |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   payment for                                         |
|            |                                                         |
|            | ```{=html}                                              |
|            | <!-- -->                                                |
|            | ```                                                     |
|            | -   air transportation, and                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   for hearse transportation over long distances.      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > April 26, 2005                                        |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > If a charge for transportation on an unpaid funeral   |
| ### a. Exc | > director's supporting statement of account appears to |
| essive Tra | > be excessive, request that the funeral director state |
| nsportatio | > if the charge in question is in the same amount       |
| n Charges  | > he/she charges the general public for the same        |
| Claimed by | > service.                                              |
|  a Funeral |                                                         |
|  Director  | > ***Note***: Make this request *only* if the charge is |
| {#a.-exces | > substantially inconsistent with that made by other    |
| sive-trans | > funeral directors in that particular locality.        |
| portation- |                                                         |
| charges-cl |                                                         |
| aimed-by-a |                                                         |
| -funeral-d |                                                         |
| irector .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### b.   | > Air transportation may be authorized when deemed      |
|  Payment f | > advantageous on                                       |
| or Air Tra |                                                         |
| nsportatio | -   the basis of urgency and funeral arrangement        |
| n {#b.-pay |     details, and                                        |
| ment-for-a |                                                         |
| ir-transpo | -   a cost basis, when compared to any other form of    |
| rtation .u |     transportation.                                     |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
|            |     > ***Note***: If air shipment is authorized, limit  |
|            |     > the amount paid to the usual air freight charges. |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

5\. Excessive Charges, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ####       | > It is neither required nor intended that itemized     |
| # c. Payme | > charges for transportation by hearse be routinely     |
| nt for Hea | > questioned.                                           |
| rse Transp |                                                         |
| ortation o | > If transport by hearse was provided over a long       |
| ver Long D | > distance when the services of a common carrier were   |
| istances { | > readily available, limit the amount of payment for    |
| #c.-paymen | > such transportation to the common carrier rates,      |
| t-for-hear | > including hearse charges to and from the common       |
| se-transpo | > carrier terminals.                                    |
| rtation-ov |                                                         |
| er-long-di | > Limit the payment to the common carrier rates *only*  |
| stances .u | > if it is apparent that a common carrier should have   |
| nnumbered} | > been used and would not have imposed any hardship on  |
|            | > the family or caused undue delay of the funeral or    |
|            | > burial.                                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | > ***Reference***: For more information on              |
|            | > transportation by hearse, see [38 CFR                 |
|            | > 3.1606(b)](http://ww                                  |
|            | w.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1606.DOC). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

#### 6. Payment for Transportation to a National Cemetery 

+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| ###       | > This topic contains information on transportation      |
| ## Introd | > costs to a national cemetery for burial after October  |
| uction {# | > 1, 1976, and                                           |
| introduct |                                                          |
| ion-5 .un | -   definitions of                                       |
| numbered} |                                                          |
|           | ```{=html}                                               |
|           | <!-- -->                                                 |
|           | ```                                                      |
|           | -   nearest national cemetery                            |
|           |                                                          |
|           | -   last place of residence, and                         |
|           |                                                          |
|           | -   place of death, and                                  |
|           |                                                          |
|           | ```{=html}                                               |
|           | <!-- -->                                                 |
|           | ```                                                      |
|           | -   determining the amount of payable transportation     |
|           |     costs.                                               |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > April 26, 2005                                        |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| ##        | > The ***nearest national cemetery*** is defined as      |
| ### a. De | > either                                                 |
| finition: |                                                          |
|  Nearest  | -   a cemetery                                           |
| National  |                                                          |
| Cemetery  | ```{=html}                                               |
| {#a.-defi | <!-- -->                                                 |
| nition-ne | ```                                                      |
| arest-nat | -   under the jurisdiction of VA National Cemetery       |
| ional-cem |     Administration or Arlington National Cemetery        |
| etery .un |                                                          |
| numbered} | -   that is the closest, geographically, to the          |
|           |     veteran's last place of residence                    |
|           |                                                          |
|           | -   where space is available, and                        |
|           |                                                          |
|           | -   where the veteran is eligible for burial, or         |
|           |                                                          |
|           | ```{=html}                                               |
|           | <!-- -->                                                 |
|           | ```                                                      |
|           | -   a national cemetery where burial space was reserved  |
|           |     for the veteran, usually when there has been         |
|           |     interment in that space of a dependent who died      |
|           |     before the veteran, prior to death.                  |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### b   | > The ***last place of residence*** is where the veteran |
| . Definit | > lived at the time of death.                            |
| ion: Last |                                                          |
|  Place of | > ***Example***: The legal domicile or a temporary       |
|  Residenc | > residence, if more advantageous to the claimant.       |
| e {#b.-de |                                                          |
| finition- | > Unless the claimant affirmatively shows it to be       |
| last-plac | > elsewhere, accept the place of last residence as the   |
| e-of-resi |                                                          |
| dence .un | -   home address to which checks were being mailed, if   |
| numbered} |     the veteran was in receipt of VA benefits at the     |
|           |     time of death (a home address is *not* a bank        |
|           |     address, post office box, or the address of the      |
|           |     fiduciary), or                                       |
|           |                                                          |
|           | -   address shown as the residence of the deceased on    |
|           |     the death certificate.                               |
+-----------+----------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

6\. Payment for Transportation to a National Cemetery, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### c.   | > The ***place of death*** is the place shown by the    |
| Definition | > death certificate or other acceptable evidence of     |
| : Place of | > death.                                                |
|  Death {#c |                                                         |
| .-definiti | > ***Reference***: For more information on acceptable   |
| on-place-o | > evidence of death, see [38 CFR                        |
| f-death .u | > 3.211](http://w                                       |
| nnumbered} | ww.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_211.DOC). |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > If transportation costs are not payable under [38 CFR |
| ## d. Buri | > 3.1605](http://ww                                     |
| al Occurri | w.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1605.DOC), |
| ng after O | > VA may pay the costs of transportation to a national  |
| ctober 1,  | > cemetery, as provided by [38 CFR                      |
| 1976 {#d.- | > 3.1600(g)](http://ww                                  |
| burial-occ | w.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1600.DOC), |
| urring-aft | > in addition to the basic NSC or SC burial allowance,  |
| er-october | > if the veteran                                        |
| -1-1976 .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} | -   died of a SC condition                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   had a SC condition at the time of death for which   |
|            |     he/she was receiving disability compensation, or    |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   was receiving military retired pay or VA pension in |
|            |     lieu of disability compensation.                    |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     > VA may pay for the same items and in the same     |
|            |     > amounts as when death occurs while properly       |
|            |     > hospitalized.                                     |
|            |                                                         |
|            |     > ***Note***: A determination of entitlement to     |
|            |     > compensation under [38 U.S.C.                     |
|            |     > 1151](http://straylight.law.cornell.edu           |
|            | /uscode/html/uscode38/usc_sec_38_00001151----000-.html) |
|            |     > is *not* a grant of service connection for the    |
|            |     > disability or death. Therefore, such entitlement  |
|            |     > would not satisfy the criteria specified above    |
|            |     > for national cemetery transportation eligibility. |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

6\. Payment for Transportation to a National Cemetery, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Follow the steps in the table below to determine the  |
| e. Determi | > amount of transportation costs payable when           |
| ning the A | > processing an award to pay transportation costs to a  |
| mount of P | > national cemetery.                                    |
| ayable Tra |                                                         |
| nsportatio |                                                         |
| n Costs {# |                                                         |
| e.-determi |                                                         |
| ning-the-a |                                                         |
| mount-of-p |                                                         |
| ayable-tra |                                                         |
| nsportatio |                                                         |
| n-costs .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step  | Action                                                       |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1     | Was the veteran buried in a national cemetery nearest        |
|       | his/her last place of residence?                             |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   If *yes*, pay the total cost of all transportation       |
|       |     charges as defined in [38 CFR                            |
|       |     3.1606](http                                             |
|       | ://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1606.DOC). |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   If *no*                                                  |
|       |                                                              |
|       | ```{=html}                                                   |
|       | <!-- -->                                                     |
|       | ```                                                          |
|       | -   do *not* pay more than the amount that would have been   |
|       |     payable for burial in the nearest national cemetery, and |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   go to Step 2.                                            |
|       |                                                              |
|       |     ***Note***: It is generally not necessary to develop,    |
|       |     ascertain, or verify the last place of residence, unless |
|       |     the claimant affirmatively shows it to be elsewhere.     |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 2     | Ask the claimant to provide the costs that would have been   |
|       | incurred to transport the deceased veteran to the closest    |
|       | national cemetery with available space.                      |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 3     | -   Pay the lesser of the two amounts provided when a        |
|       |     response is received from the claimant, and              |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   provide a full explanation to the claimant if the        |
|       |     payment authorized is less than the amount initially     |
|       |     claimed.                                                 |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

#### 7. Payment to an Estate

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### In   | > Claims for the transportation allowance may be        |
| troduction | > received from a deceased person's estate.             |
|  {#introdu |                                                         |
| ction-6 .u | > This topic contains information on                    |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
|            | -   when to pay the deceased veteran's estate for       |
|            |     transportation charges                              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   paying the deceased veteran's estate upon notice of |
|            |     closure of the estate                               |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   when to pay a deceased claimant's estate            |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   claims by a legal representative of an estate       |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   acceptable claims for reimbursement of              |
|            |     transportation costs                                |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   payment under intestacy laws                        |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   finance activity's responsibility, and              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   escheat (funds reverting to the State).             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##### C    | > August 14, 2006                                       |
| hange Date |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > Pay the administrator or executor of the deceased     |
| ## a. When | > veteran's estate when transportation charges          |
|  to Pay th |                                                         |
| e Deceased | -   have been paid from the funds of the deceased       |
|  Veteran's |     veteran's estate, or                                |
|  Estate fo |                                                         |
| r Transpor | -   were prepaid by the veteran prior to death.         |
| tation Cha |                                                         |
| rges {#a.- |     > ***Note***: A claim filed by the deceased         |
| when-to-pa |     > veteran's estate must be accompanied by a copy of |
| y-the-dece |     > the letters of administration or letters of       |
| ased-veter |     > testamentary certified over the signature and     |
| ans-estate |     > seal of the appointing court.                     |
| -for-trans |                                                         |
| portation- |                                                         |
| charges .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

7\. Payment to an Estate, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > Follow the steps in the table below if, prior to      |
| ## b. Payi | > approval of an award, VA receives notice that the     |
| ng the Dec | > veteran's estate has been closed.                     |
| eased Vete |                                                         |
| ran's Esta |                                                         |
| te upon No |                                                         |
| tice of Cl |                                                         |
| osure of t |                                                         |
| he Estate  |                                                         |
| {#b.-payin |                                                         |
| g-the-dece |                                                         |
| ased-veter |                                                         |
| ans-estate |                                                         |
| -upon-noti |                                                         |
| ce-of-clos |                                                         |
| ure-of-the |                                                         |
| -estate .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step  | Action                                                       |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1     | Obtain a certified copy of the following from the claimant:  |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   discharge of the fiduciary, and                          |
|       |                                                              |
|       | -   court order of distribution.                             |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 2     | Pay the person or persons identified in the court order of   |
|       | distribution.                                                |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 3     | If there are co-administrators or co-executors, prepare the  |
|       | award with their joint names.                                |
|       |                                                              |
|       | ***Note***: If no administrator or executor has been         |
|       | appointed, pay the person acting for the estate who will     |
|       | make distribution under the existing laws of the State of    |
|       | the decedent's domicile.                                     |
|       |                                                              |
|       | ***Reference***: For more information on paying the person   |
|       | acting for the estate, see M21-1 MR, Part VII, 3.7.e.        |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > Pay the administrator or executor of the deceased     |
| ## c. When | > claimant's estate if the person entitled to payment   |
|  to Pay to | > has filed a claim, but died before                    |
|  a Decease |                                                         |
| d Claimant | -   adjudication was complete, or                       |
| 's Estate  |                                                         |
| {#c.-when- | -   the check was issued.                               |
| to-pay-to- |                                                         |
| a-deceased |     > If this person's estate funds were used to pay    |
| -claimants |     > the transportation expenses, reimburse that       |
| -estate .u |     > person's estate even if he/she                    |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
|            | -   died before the veteran                             |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   died before the veteran was buried, or              |
|            |                                                         |
|            | -   was deceased at the time the expenses were incurred |
|            |     or paid.                                            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

7\. Payment to an Estate, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > In some cases, the person whose personal funds were   |
| d. Claim b | > used to pay the transportation expenses dies before   |
| y a Legal  | > filing a claim for the transportation allowance.      |
| Representa |                                                         |
| tive of an | > In this situation, a legal representative of this     |
|  Estate {# | > person's estate may file a claim.                     |
| d.-claim-b |                                                         |
| y-a-legal- | > ***Example***: The administrator, executor, or person |
| representa | > who will be responsible for distribution of the       |
| tive-of-an | > estate under the intestacy laws of the State of the   |
| -estate .u | > deceased person's domicile.                           |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
|            | > ***Reference:*** For more information on time limits  |
|            | > for filing claims, see M21-1 MR, Part VII, 1.A.4.     |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| #####      | > Accept *VA Form 21-601*, *Application for Accrued     |
| e. Accepta | > Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary*, as a claim for   |
| ble Claims | > reimbursement of transportation costs to a deceased   |
|  for Reimb | > claimant's estate.                                    |
| ursement o |                                                         |
| f Transpor | > ***Note***: If a deceased claimant filed an informal  |
| tation Cos | > claim, but not a formal one, the administrator or     |
| ts {#e.-ac | > executor is required to                               |
| ceptable-c |                                                         |
| laims-for- | -   complete *VA Form 21-530, Application for Burial    |
| reimbursem |     Benefits*, and                                      |
| ent-of-tra |                                                         |
| nsportatio | -   furnish the necessary supporting evidence.          |
| n-costs .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

Continued on next page

7\. Payment to an Estate, Continued

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ####       | > When no administrator or executor is appointed for    |
| # f. Payme | > the estate of the deceased veteran or claimant, make  |
| nt under I | > distribution under the intestacy laws of the State of |
| ntestacy L | > his/her legal domicile.                               |
| aws {#f.-p |                                                         |
| ayment-und | > Follow the steps in the table below to process a      |
| er-intesta | > payment under intestacy laws when you receive a claim |
| cy-laws .u | > filed on *VA Form 21-601,* *Application for Accrued   |
| nnumbered} | > Amounts Due a Deceased Beneficiary*, by someone       |
|            | > acting for the estate.                                |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step  | Action                                                       |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 1     | Determine the order of payment of debts and heirs.           |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 2     | Send *VA Form 21-601,* *Application for Accrued Amounts Due  |
|       | a Deceased Beneficiary,* to each person found to be          |
|       | entitled, who has not yet submitted an application.          |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 3     | If payment is to be made to the heirs, the amount payable    |
|       | may be paid to one heir on the unconditional written consent |
|       | of all other heirs.                                          |
|       |                                                              |
|       | ***Reference***: For more information on waivers, see [38    |
|       | CFR                                                          |
|       | 3.1601(b)(4)](http                                           |
|       | ://www.warms.vba.va.gov/regs/38CFR/BOOKB/PART3/S3_1601.DOC). |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ###        | > The finance activity will make settlement when checks |
| ## g. Fina | > issued before or after the claimant's death were not  |
| nce Activi | > negotiated.                                           |
| ty's Respo |                                                         |
| nsibility  |                                                         |
| {#g.-finan |                                                         |
| ce-activit |                                                         |
| ys-respons |                                                         |
| ibility .u |                                                         |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ##         | > In the absence of a statement from any public or      |
| ### h. Esc | > private source that the transportation reimbursement  |
| heat {#h.- | > will escheat (be turned over to the State), make no   |
| escheat .u | > inquiry as to the possibility of escheat.             |
| nnumbered} |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+