Pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA cemetery 
You can apply to find out in advance if you can be buried in a VA national cemetery. This is called a pre - need determination of eligibility and it can help make the burial planning process easier for your family members in their time of need. Follow the steps below to apply. Please note: Pre - need means before the time of need. This application is for planning for your own burial in advance. Please don t complete this form if you re requesting burial at the time of need. Find out how to schedule a burial 

How do I prepare before starting my application? 


Find out if you re eligible. One of these must describe you: 
A Veteran who didn t receive a dishonorable discharge when you separated from the military , or The spouse or dependent child of a service member or Veteran , even if the service member or Veteran has already passed away , or In some cases , the adult dependent child of a service member or Veteran if you aren t married We base our decision of whether or not you qualify for burial in a VA national cemetery on your service history or the service history of the Veteran or service member who s sponsoring your application for burial as a spouse, surviving spouse, or unmarried adult child. Get more details about eligibility Note: If a service member dies on active duty , they re eligible for burial without a pre - need decision letter. 

Choose the VA national cemetery where you d prefer to be buried. 
Find a VA national cemetery Please note: This application is only for VA national cemeteries. If you d like to be buried in a state or tribal Veterans cemetery , contact that specific cemetery ahead of time to find out about their pre - need program. Some state Veterans cemeteries require that you live in that state or have other rules around eligibility. You can apply for a pre - need determination of eligibility from VA and also from a state or tribal Veterans cemetery. Find a state Veterans cemetery Thi

user: I want to apply for a burial in a VA cemetery and I want to know what happens after I apply.

assistant: Have you applied for a pre-need eligibility determination?

assistant: If you have applied already, there is a delay in processing those because we have gotten so many of them.

user: Is there any place where I can get more information about this later if I need it?

assistant: You can call 877-222-8387 for more information. It is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

user: Can I choose which cemetery I want to be buried at? I really think Arlington is the best and I would love to be buried there. 

assistant: For that particular cemetery, you would need to call 977-907-8585 for more information regarding the qualifications to be buried there. The number is open from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

user: I have the form I need to fill out but how would I get it to them. Can I mail it? And am I supposed to sign it or do I have to get an official or something to do it?

assistant: The person who is applying for the pre-need determination needs to sign it- that would be you. And you can mail the form in, yes.

user: How do they decide who is eligible to be buried in a VA cemetery?

assistant: It is based on your service history as a Veteran, or the service history of the person who is sponsoring you, if you are a spouse, surviving spouse, or unmarried adult child. 

user: How far ahead do I need to apply for pre-need eligibility?

assistant: That just means that you are applying before you need it. If you are requesting a burial when someone has just passed, you would not fill out a pre-need request.