a. Burial in a national cemetery is based on military service. Requests for interment in national cemeteries should be directed to staff at the cemetery where burial is sought. A list of VA national cemeteries is provided in Section V.2 of this information sheet or on-line at www.cem.va.gov. The cemetery director determines eligibility for burial, usually at the time of need. Most categories of persons entitled to burial in VA national cemeteries are summarized in Section III of this information sheet.

b. Arlington National Cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army. Inquiries concerning eligibility for interment there should be directed to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. See Section V.5 of this information sheet for the address and phone number or on-line at www.arlingtoncemetery.org.

c. The two active national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Interior -- Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia and Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Tennessee -- use the same eligibility criteria as the National Cemetery Administration. Addresses and telephone numbers for cemeteries administered by the Department of the Interior are provided in Section V.3 of this information sheet.

d. Eligibility criteria for burial in State veterans cemeteries are the same or similar to criteria for burial in VA national cemeteries, but some States have residency requirements and other more restrictive requirements. State cemeteries should be contacted directly for information. State veterans cemeteries are listed in Section V.4 of this information sheet or on-line at www.cem.va.gov.

a. The National Cemetery Administration is authorized to bury eligible individuals in any VA national cemetery with available grave space. See Section V.2 of this information sheet for a list of VA national cemeteries.

b. One gravesite or columbarium niche is authorized for the interment of all eligible members of a family except where soil conditions require more than one grave, or when the number of eligible family decedents requires more than one grave, or niche.

c. A gravesite is not reserved before it is needed for a burial. VA honors reservations made through 1962, when cemeteries were under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army and reservations were allowed. When a death occurs and eligibility for interment in a national cemetery is determined, grave space is assigned by the cemetery director in the name of the veteran.

d. Many VA national cemeteries that have exhausted space for full-casket burials can still inter cremated remains. Occasionally, full-casket gravesites become available in these cemeteries due to disinterments or when gravesite reservations made through 1962 are canceled. Contact the cemetery director for information regarding the availability of grave space.

a. There is no charge for burial in a national cemetery. Opening and closing of the grave, a headstone or marker with authorized inscription(s), and perpetual maintenance will be provided by the Government. Flat bronze, granite or marble grave markers and upright marble or granite headstones are available to mark graves in the style consistent with existing monuments at the national cemetery. Marble, granite, or bronze niche covers are used on columbarium.

b. At no expense to the next of kin, VA furnishes graveliners for new graves in national cemeteries with space available. The next of kin may choose to purchase and use a private outer burial receptacle rather than use the government furnished graveliner and receive a monetary allowance equal to the average cost to the Government of a graveliner, less administrative costs. This monetary allowance will partially defray the cost of a privately purchased outer burial receptacle. Outer burial receptacles may be purchased at private expense for family members of an individual previously buried, if advance approval of the cemetery director is obtained.

c. A United States flag is provided to drape the casket or accompany the urn of an eligible veteran who was discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable. A burial flag may be provided by a funeral director or obtained at VA Regional Offices and most local post offices. After the service, the flag will be presented to the next of kin or close associate of the deceased. Flags may be donated to a national cemetery to be flown on appropriate days, if the cemetery has an Avenue of Flags program. VA also will issue a burial flag on behalf of a servicemember who was missing in action and later presumed dead by the military department. By law, only one flag is presented for the eligible veteran.

d. VA may not reimburse any costs associated with the burial, including transportation of the remains, of a decedent other than a veteran. VA will pay a monetary burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at the time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation or would have been entitled to compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay. Eligibility for the allowance also may be established when death occurs in a VA hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary, or a hospital or nursing home with which VA contracted, and additional costs of transportation of the remains may be reimbursed in those cases. In these cases, VA will also pay the cost of transporting the remains of a service-disabled veteran to the national cemetery with available grave space nearest his or her home. The person who bore the veteran's burial expenses may claim reimbursement up to prescribed limits.

e. A person who dies on active duty is entitled to certain benefits from the military. Information about these benefits is available from the branch of the Armed Forces in which the person served.

f. A Presidential Memorial Certificate may be requested to honor the memory of any deceased veteran who was discharged under honorable conditions. The local VA Regional Office generally originates the first request for a Presidential Memorial Certificate. Request forms may also be accessed online at www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-0247.pdf. Eligible recipients include next of kin, other relatives and friends. Requests should be accompanied by a copy of a document such as a military discharge certificate to establish honorable service.

g. Additional information concerning reimbursement of burial expenses and other benefits by VA may be found in VA Pamphlet 80-0-01, "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents." A copy of VA Pamphlet 80-0-01 can be obtained from most VA offices or the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, or viewed on-line at www.va.gov/opa.

a. Interment arrangements for an eligible veteran or dependent are made by the funeral director or the next of kin at the time of need by contacting the national cemetery in which burial is desired. A dependent is buried based upon the eligibility of the veteran. To establish the veteran's eligibility, the name of the veteran, together with the rank; serial, service, social security, and VA claim numbers, as applicable; date and place of entry into and separation from the service; branch of service; date and place of birth; and date of death should be furnished. If any of these items are not available, as much information as possible should be furnished. A copy of the official military discharge document bearing an official seal or a DD-214 is usually sufficient to determine eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. The document must show that release from service was under conditions other than dishonorable. For the majority of individuals, a DD-214 or other discharge document will be required to determine eligibility for burial; however, documentation such as a “20 year letter” covering release from reserve components or the National Guard may also qualify individuals for burial. If discharge information cannot be located, the VA Regional Office or national cemetery will also help to determine eligibility for burial. More specific information on eligibility is in Section III of this information sheet. (This information is solicited under chapter 24, title 38, United States Code, and is required to permit burial in a national cemetery. The information may be disclosed outside VA as permitted by law, or as stated in the Federal Register in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974. Failure to provide the required data may result in delay of burial until eligibility is verified.)

b. The cemetery staff will set a tentative date for the burial pending verification of service and character of discharge, and will notify the applicant when the burial is scheduled. Not until the director verifies eligibility and confirms the arrangements will the proposed date and time of the burial be announced. The decedent may be transported to the cemetery only on the announced date of the burial.

c. For persons choosing cremation there are multiple options. Cremated remains may be interred in an in-ground gravesite, placed in a garden niche, or placed in a columbarium, where available. The container holding the cremated remains may not be delivered to the national cemetery until the director verifies eligibility and confirms the arrangements. Also, where available, the remains of the deceased may be scattered in Cremation Gardens, designated garden-type areas for the scattering of cremated remains.

d. To facilitate arranging an interment, a person contemplating burial in a national cemetery should assemble the information listed in paragraph (a.) above, prepare a statement of wishes, and place the information and statement among other important papers that will be immediately available to the person(s) making final arrangements for burial.

e. Many national cemeteries have set aside memorial areas to commemorate veterans whose remains were not recovered or identified, were buried at sea, or are otherwise unavailable for interment. VA will also provide a memorial headstone or marker to be placed in that section of the cemetery.

a. Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard)

(1) Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies on active duty.

(2) Any veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. With certain exceptions, service beginning after September 7, 1980, as an enlisted person, and service after October 16, 1981, as an officer, must be for a minimum of 24 continuous months or the full period for which the person was called to active duty (as in the case of a Reservist called to active duty for a limited duration). Undesirable, bad conduct, and any other type of discharge other than honorable may or may not qualify the individual for veterans benefits, depending upon a determination made by a VA Regional Office. Cases presenting multiple discharges of varying character are also referred for adjudication to a VA Regional Office.

(3) Any citizen of the United States who, during any war in which the United States has or may be engaged, served in the Armed Forces of any Government allied with the United States during that war, whose last active service was terminated honorably by death or otherwise, and who was a citizen of the United States at the time of entry into such service and at the time of death.

b. Members of Reserve Components and Reserve Officers' Training Corps

(1) Reservists and National Guard members who, at time of death, were entitled to retired pay under Chapter 1223, title 10, United States Code, or would have been entitled, but for being under the age of 60. Specific categories of individuals eligible for retired pay are delineated in section 12731 of Chapter 1223, title 10, United States Code.

(2) Members of reserve components, and members of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, who die while hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease contracted or incurred under honorable conditions while performing active duty for training or inactive duty training, or undergoing such hospitalization or treatment.

(3) Members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force who die under honorable conditions while attending an authorized training camp or on an authorized cruise, while performing authorized travel to or from that camp or cruise, or while hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease contracted or incurred under honorable conditions while engaged in one of those activities.

(4) Members of reserve components who, during a period of active duty for training, were disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty or, during a period of inactive duty training, were disabled or died from an injury or certain cardiovascular disorders incurred or aggravated in line of duty.

c. Commissioned Officers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(1) A Commissioned Officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (formerly titled the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Environmental Science Services Administration) with full-time duty on or after July 29, 1945.

(2) A Commissioned Officer who served before July 29, 1945, and,

(a) Was assigned to an area of immediate military hazard as determined by the Secretary of Defense while in time of war, or in a Presidentially declared national emergency; or,

(b) Served in the Philippine Islands on December 7, 1941, and continuously in such islands thereafter.

d. Public Health Service

(1) A Commissioned Officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service who served on full-time duty on or after July 29, 1945. If the service of the particular Public Health Service Officer falls within the meaning of active duty for training, as defined in section 101(22), title 38, United States Code, he or she must have been disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

(2) A Commissioned Officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service who performed full-time duty prior to July 29, 1945:

(a) In time of war;

(b) On detail for duty with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard; or,

(c) While the Service was part of the military forces of the United States pursuant to Executive Order of the President.

(3) A Commissioned Officer serving on inactive duty training as defined in section 101(23), title 38, United States Code, whose death resulted from an injury incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

e. World War II Merchant Mariners

(1) United States Merchant Mariners with oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict, December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. Prior to the enactment of Public Law 105-368, United States Merchant Mariners with oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict of December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, were eligible. With enactment of Public Law 105-368, the service period is extended to December 31, 1946, for those dying on or after November 11, 1998. A DD-214 documenting this service may be obtained by submitting an application to Commandant (G-MVP-6), United States Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593. Notwithstanding, the Mariner’s death must have occurred on or after the enactment of Public Law 105-368.

(2) United States Merchant Mariners who served on blockships in support of Operation Mulberry during World War II.

f. The Philippine Armed Forces

(1) Any Philippine veteran who was a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States at the time of their death; and resided in the United States at the time of their death; and,

(a) Was a person who served before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the military order of the President dated July 26, 1941, including organized guerilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the Army of the United States, and who died on or after November 1, 2000; or,

(b) Was a person who enlisted between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947, with the Armed Forces of the United States with the consent of the Philippine government, pursuant to section 14 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945, and who died on or after December 16, 2003.

g. Spouses and Dependents

(1) The spouse or surviving spouse of an eligible veteran is eligible for interment in a national cemetery even if that veteran is not buried or memorialized in a national cemetery. In addition, the spouse or surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States whose remains are unavailable for burial is also eligible for burial.

(2) The surviving spouse of an eligible veteran who had a subsequent remarriage to a non-veteran and whose death occurred on or after January 1, 2000, is eligible for burial in a national cemetery, based on his or her marriage to the eligible veteran.

(3) The minor children of an eligible veteran. For purpose of burial in a national cemetery, a minor child is a child who is unmarried and:

(a) Who is under 21 years of age; or,

(b) Who is under 23 years of age and pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution.

(4) The unmarried adult child of an eligible veteran. For purpose of burial in a national cemetery, an unmarried adult child is:

Of any age but became permanently physically or mentally disabled and incapable of self-support before reaching 21 years of age, or before reaching 23 years of age if pursuing a full-time course of instruction at an approved educational institution. Proper supporting documentation must be provided.

h. Others

Such other persons or classes of persons as designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. §2402(6)) or the Secretary of Defense (Public Law 95-202, §401) and (38 CFR § 3.7(x)).