VA national cemeteries
VA national cemetery burial: who qualifies
What burial in a VA national cemetery includes and who is eligible.
Burial in a VA national cemetery is free for eligible veterans, their spouses and some dependent children. VA covers the gravesite, opening and closing, a burial liner, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care. To schedule a burial, call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.
What does national cemetery burial include?
VA lists these at no cost for anyone eligible for burial in a national cemetery:
- A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
- Opening and closing of the grave
- A government-provided burial liner
- A government-provided headstone or marker
- Perpetual care of the gravesite
What extra items do veterans get?
- A burial flag
- A Presidential Memorial Certificate
- Military funeral honors provided by the Department of Defense
Who is eligible for burial in a national cemetery?
A veteran who didn't receive a dishonorable discharge. Enlisted service that started after September 7, 1980, or officer service after October 16, 1981, generally needs 24 continuous months of active duty or the full period the person was called to serve. A service member who died on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training also qualifies.
A spouse or surviving spouse is eligible, even after remarrying. So is an unmarried minor child (under 21, or under 23 if a full-time student), and an unmarried adult child who became permanently disabled before 21 (or 23 if a student). A divorced spouse isn't eligible through the marriage.
VA bars a person convicted of a federal or state capital crime, or of a Tier III sex offense with a sentence of life imprisonment, once the conviction is final.
How is a national cemetery burial scheduled?
- Fax the DD-214 or other discharge papers to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 866-900-6417, or email them to [email protected] with the person's name in the subject line.
- You or the funeral home call the office at 800-535-1117 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET).
- Have the person's full name, Social Security number or service number, date of birth, marital status, date and place of death, and the next of kin's details ready.
- Once eligibility is confirmed, the office schedules the burial. Without discharge papers, checking eligibility can take several days.
- The committal service takes place at a committal shelter, not at the grave, and lasts about 20 minutes. The burial follows.
What other veterans cemeteries are there?
State veterans cemeteries are run by states, many built with VA grant money. They set their own eligibility, which often includes living in the state.
Tribal veterans cemeteries are run by tribal governments, also with VA grants, and set their own rules.
Arlington National Cemetery is run by the Army, not VA, and has stricter eligibility rules.
Where can you get help?
VA benefits line: 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET, for the burial allowance and other benefits.
National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 800-535-1117, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, to schedule a burial in a VA national cemetery.
Accredited Veterans Service Officers at VFW, American Legion, AMVETS, DAV and county veterans offices help with claims and appeals at no cost.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can a veteran's spouse be buried in a national cemetery?
Yes. A spouse or surviving spouse is eligible, even after remarrying, and can be buried there even if the veteran is buried elsewhere.
What if the veteran's DD-214 is missing?
The next of kin can request a copy from the National Personnel Records Center at vetrecs.archives.gov or on Standard Form 180. You can still call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office in the meantime. VA can check eligibility without the papers, though it can take several days.
Can the family choose the gravesite in a VA national cemetery?
No. VA assigns gravesites, and a pre-need eligibility decision doesn't reserve one. If choosing the plot matters, a private cemetery with a VA headstone or marker is the usual route.
Does it have to be the closest national cemetery?
No. An eligible veteran can be buried in any VA national cemetery with space. Arlington National Cemetery is run by the Army and has stricter rules of its own.
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