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: What information do I need to apply to find out if I can be buried in a VA national cemetery? 

assistant: Do you have your DD214 or other separation documents? 

user: I do. 

assistant: You will need your social security number, your date and place of birth, your military status information such as discharge type, service dates and your exit rank as well as your DD214. 

user: Does that information include burial in a tribal veterans cemetery? 

assistant: This information is for VA national cemeteries.  The other cemeteries provide their own information. 

user: How would I apply by mail? 

assistant: You would need to fill out an Application for Pre-need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery VA Form 40-10007 and sign it.  You would sent that completed application with copies of your supporting documents to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office in St. Louis. 

user: Can my sister who is 17 and currently serving now apply for burial using the same method you are telling me? 

assistant: If a person is under 18, mentally unable to make decisions for themselves, or physically unable to sign the form they can have a court-appointed representative to sign the form for them.  However, if your sister is active, she is not a veteran. She does not yet know the terms of her discharge. 

user: Does this also pertain to my own adult children? 

assistant: If you are applying for an unmarried adult child, you will also need to provide supporting documents about the child's disability.  You, as the veteran, should also ask the child's doctor to verify the documents.  The documents should include proof of the date of the disability's onset with a description of the disability, the marital status of the child, and a description of how dependent the disabled child is on you.