Veterans Burial Benefits
Headstones and Markers
VA furnishes headstones or markers at no charge for service members who die while on active duty and for all eligible veterans. Headstones or markers must be placed in national, state veterans, local, or private cemeteries. Government furnished markers must be inscribed with the name of the deceased, the branch of service, and date of birth and death. Flat bronze, granite, or marble and upright granite or marble headstones are available. The style that you choose must be consistent with existing monuments at the place of burial. To apply and to obtain specific information on available styles, contact a funeral director and/ or the cemetery where the headstone or marker is to be placed.
Burial Flags
VA provides an Untied States Flag to drape the casket or folded to accompany the casket or urn of a deceased veteran who:
Veterans separated from the service must have been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable/ A copy of the Military discharge form DD214 is required to process most paper work.
Reimbursement of Burial Expenses
VA will pay a $300.00 burial and funeral expense allowance for veterans who, at time of death, were entitled to receive pension or compensation but for receipt of military retirement pay. Eligibility also may be established when a death occurs at a VA facility, a nursing home under VA contract or a state veterans nursing home. VA will pay a $300.00 plot allowance when a veteran is not buried in a cemetery that is under U.S. Government jurisdiction if:
- The veteran was discharged from active duty because of disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
- The veteran was drawing compensation or pension or military retired pay
- The veteran died in a VA facility
For additional information about burial and memorial benefits, please contact a funeral director or your local VA national Cemetery, regional office or on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov/