"VA National Cemetery Burial Eligibility: Who Qualifies? | V3T-TALK & Veteran Benefits Guide"
Channel: V3T(VET)-TALK
Date: 2023-08-05

VA National Cemeteries: Who is Eligible for Burial Benefits?

The VA National Cemetery Administration provides burial benefits to eligible Veterans, service members, and their families. The benefits include a gravesite in any of the VA's 153 national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

Who is eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery?

To be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, the person must meet one of the following requirements:

- The person is a Veteran who did not receive a dishonorable discharge.
- The person is a service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training.
- The person is the spouse or surviving spouse of a Veteran (even if they remarried after the Veteran's death).
- The person is the minor child of a Veteran (even if the Veteran died first) or, in some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a Veteran.

Additionally, certain groups, such as U.S. citizens who served in the Armed Forces of any government allied with the United States during a war, members of Reserve components or the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Public Health Service, World War II Merchant Mariners, Philippine Armed Forces Veterans, and Hmong Veterans may also be eligible for burial benefits.

Who is not eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery?

Certain family members, people who were drafted but never entered military service, Veterans with a certain character of discharge, and Veterans found guilty of a capital crime are not eligible for burial benefits.

What should I do if I received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge?

If you received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA benefits. However, you can try to qualify by applying for a discharge upgrade or going through the VA Character of Discharge review process.

Can I plan ahead for my burial in a VA national cemetery?

Yes. Eligible individuals can pre-apply for burial in a VA National Cemetery by completing VA Form 40-10007, Application for Pre-Need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery. This allows the VA to determine if the individual is eligible and reserve a gravesite.

In conclusion, VA national cemeteries provide burial benefits to eligible Veterans, service members, and their families. It's important to understand the eligibility requirements and plan ahead if possible. For more information on VA burial benefits and planning, visit the VA National Cemetery Administration website.


VA WEBSITE: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/eligibility/


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