[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19735-19736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08387]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Reimbursement for Caskets and Urns for Burial of Unclaimed 
Remains in a National Cemetery

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As required under the final regulation published elsewhere in 
this issue of the Federal Register, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) notifies interested parties 
of the maximum reimbursement amounts allowed for caskets and urns 
provided for interment in a VA national cemetery of the unclaimed 
remains of veterans with no known next-of-kin where sufficient 
financial resources are unavailable for the furnishing of a casket or 
urn for burial.

DATES: Maximum reimbursement rates in this notice are applicable for 
claims received in calendar year 2015 for burial receptacles purchased 
for interment of deceased eligible veterans in VA national cemeteries.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamula Jones, Budget Operations and 
Field Support Division, National Cemetery Administration, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420. 
Telephone: 202-461-6688 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 2306(f) of title 38, U.S.C., 
authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery 
Administration (NCA) to furnish a casket or urn for interment in a VA 
national cemetery of the unclaimed remains of veterans for whom VA 
cannot identify a next of kin and determines that sufficient financial 
resources for the furnishing of a casket or urn for burial are not 
available. In another portion of this Federal Register, VA publishes 
the final rule for 38 CFR 38.628, implementing this authority by 
providing reimbursement for the purchase of a burial receptacle for an 
eligible veteran whose death occurs after January 10, 2014, subject to 
a maximum reimbursement limit, which is based on the average cost of a 
casket or urn meeting certain specifications available for purchase 
during the fiscal year preceding the calendar year of the date an 
application is received. This notice provides the maximum reimbursement 
rate for applications received in calendar year 2015.
    Throughout 2014, VA advised individuals who intended to seek 
reimbursement for the purchase of caskets or urns to hold their 
receipts until the publication of the final rule. Because publication 
of the final rule was delayed, and these individuals could not submit 
those claims in calendar year 2014, VA has determined that the current 
maximum rates should apply.
    We will continue to use the calculation for reimbursement rates as

[[Page 19736]]

determined by the average cost of caskets and urns that meet the 
minimum specifications provided in 38 CFR 38.628(c)(5). We will conduct 
market research of prices from multiple sources for procurement of 
durable plastic urns and metal caskets. Using this method of 
computation, the average cost was determined to be $1,938 for caskets 
and $169 for urns for fiscal year 2013. The allowance payable for 
calendar year 2014, would have been $1,938 for caskets and $169 for 
urns. VA has calculated the 2015 amounts by adjusting the 2014 rates 
for inflation. We state that the maximum reimbursement amounts for 2015 
are $1,967 for a casket and $172 for an urn, which apply to all 
applications received in calendar year 2015.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jose D. 
Riojas, Chief of Staff, approved this document on April 7, 2015, for 
publication.

    Dated: April 8, 2015.
William F. Russo,
Acting Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of 
the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-08387 Filed 4-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P