Burial benefits

Service-connected burial benefits (see 38 C.F.R. §3.1704):

Burial benefits are payble to the surviving spouse of a veteran;

• who died as a result of service-connected disability or disabilities (including 38 U.S.C. 1151) or;
• who were rated totally disabled (100 percent) for a service-connected disability or disabilities at time of death (excluding IU), or;
• when Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is granted (including DIC granted under 38 U.S.C. §1318 or 38 U.S.C. §1151).

Non service-connected burial benefits:

If you're paying the costs of a veteran's burial and funeral costs, then you may be eligible for the burial allowance from VA (see 38 C.F.R. §3.1705). to be eligible, the following criteria must be met;

• was receiving pension or compensation at the time of death
• was receiving military retired pay in lieu of compensation at the time of death
• had a claim pending at the time of death and has been found entitled to compensation or pension from a date prior to the date of death
• has no family or friends who claim the Veteran’s body and there are insufficient resources available in the Veteran’s estate to cover burial and funeral expenses, or
• died while under VA care (see 38 C.F.R. §3.1706).

The VAF 21P-530ez should be sent to the Evidence Intake center, which will then be routed to the appropriate Regional Office.

If you believe you qualify for any of the burial benefits available, please contact me for any questions or assistance in filing the appropriate claim.

Application for a Government headstone or marker;

Death of a veteran while residing overseas:

The Government headstone or Marker shown on VAF 40-1330 can be shipped to overseas locations at no cost to the surviving spouse or next-of-kin if the veteran will be interred in a foreign cemetery.

Note: the VAF 40-1330 should be sent to the following address instead of the Evidence Intake Center;

Department of Veterans Affairs

Memorial Program Service (41B)

5109 Russell Road

Quantico, VA 22134-3903

USA

Facsimile: (800) 455-7143

Burial flags: (see 38 C.F.R. §1.10)

Burial flags are avaiable to the 'next of kin' of a deceased veteran who; 

• served during wartime
• died on active duty after May 27, 1941
• served after January 31, 1955, or
• served during peacetime and were discharged or released before June 27, 1950

​To apply for a burial flag, you'll need to submit the below VAF 27-2008 to the followwing address;

NCA Field Programs 
Evidence Intake Center
P. O. Box 5237
Janesville, WI 53547