Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery
Veterans, service members, and some family members may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. Find out if you, or a person you’re planning a burial for, can get this benefit.
Who’s eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery?
Veterans, service members, spouses, and dependents may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery, as well as other benefits, if they meet one of these requirements.
One of these must be true:
- The person qualifying for burial benefits is a Veteran who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, or
- The person qualifying for burial benefits is a service member who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training, or
- The person qualifying for burial benefits is the spouse or surviving spouse of a Veteran (even if they remarried after the Veteran’s death), or
- The person qualifying for burial benefits is the minor child of a Veteran (even if the Veteran died first) or, in some cases, the unmarried adult dependent child of a Veteran
Eligibility information for specific groups
U.S. citizens who served in the Armed Forces of any government allied with the United States during a war
A U.S. citizen who served in the Armed Forces of a U.S. ally during wartime may be eligible if they meet both of these requirements.
Both of these must be true:
- The service member ended their last active service honorably by death or otherwise, and
- The service member was a U.S. citizen at the time they entered their last active service and at the time of their death
Members of Reserve components or the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
National Guard and Reserve members
A National Guard or Reserve member may be eligible if they meet any of these requirements.
At least one of these must be true:
- The National Guard or Reserve member met their legal minimum active-duty service requirements, was called up to active duty and served their full term of service, and didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, or
- The National Guard or Reserve member was entitled to retirement pay at their time of death, or would have been entitled to retirement pay if they weren’t under 60 years of age at the time of death, or
- The National Guard or Reserve member died while hospitalized or getting treatment at the expense of the U.S. for an injury or illness that occurred while they were performing active-duty services for training or inactive-duty training under honorable conditions, or
- The National Guard or Reserve member became disabled or died from a disease or injury caused—or made worse—by their service during a period of active duty for training, or
- The National Guard or Reserve member became disabled or died from an injury or certain cardiovascular disorders caused—or made worse—by their service during a period of inactive-duty training
Members of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force
A member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps may be eligible if they meet any of these requirements.
One of these must be true:
- The officer died under honorable conditions while attending an authorized training camp or on an authorized cruise, or
- The officer died under honorable conditions while performing authorized travel to or from a training camp or cruise, or
- The officer died under honorable conditions while hospitalized or getting treatment at the expense of the United States for an injury or illness that occurred while they were attending or traveling to a training camp or cruise under honorable conditions
Commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may be eligible if they meet any of these requirements.
At least one of these must be true:
- The officer served on full-time duty on or after July 29, 1945, or
- The officer served before July 29, 1945, and was assigned to an area of immediate military hazard (as determined by the secretary of defense while in time of war or by a national emergency as declared by the president), or
- The officer served in the Philippine Islands on December 7, 1941, and continued to serve there until their death
A commissioned officer of the Public Health Service may be eligible if they meet at least one of these requirements.
One of these must be true:
The officer served on full-time duty on or after July 29, 1945. If their service was considered active duty for training, they must have become disabled or died from a disease or injury caused or made worse by their service.
The officer performed full-time duty prior to July 29, 1945:
- In time of war, or
- On detail for duty with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or
- While a part of the military forces of the United States by executive order of the president
The officer served on inactive-duty training, and their death resulted from an injury caused or made worse by their service.
World War II Merchant Mariners
A WWII Merchant Mariner may be eligible if they meet at least one of these requirements.
One of these must be true:
- The Merchant Mariner had oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1945, or
- The Merchant Mariner had oceangoing service during the period of armed conflict from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946, and died after November 11, 1998, or
- The Merchant Mariner served on blockships in support of Operation Mulberry during World War II
To get a DD214 documenting this service, mail an application to:
Commandant (G-MVP-6)
United States Coast Guard
2100 2nd Street, SW
Washington, DC 20593
Philippine Armed Forces Veterans
A Philippine Armed Forces Veteran may be eligible if they meet these requirements.
Both of these must be true:
And one of these must be true:
- The Philippine Veteran served before July 1, 1946, in the Philippine military (including recognized guerrilla forces), while these forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States, and died on or after November 1, 2000, or
- The Philippine Veteran enlisted between October 6, 1945, and June 30, 1947, with the Armed Forces of the United States with the consent of the Philippine government, and died on or after December 16, 2003
Hmong Veterans
A Hmong Veteran may be eligible if they meet all of these requirements.
All of these must be true:
- The Hmong Veteran died on or after March 23, 2018, and
- The Hmong Veteran resided in the U.S. at the time of death, and
- The Hmong Veteran was naturalized under Section 2(1) of the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 (also called the 2000 Act)
What burial benefits do Hmong Veterans qualify for?
Hmong Veterans are eligible for burial in a national or private cemetery. They’re also eligible for a headstone or marker, but not for other memorial items (like a burial flag or Presidential Memorial Certificate) or for military funeral honors (like the playing of “Taps”).
Spouses and surviving spouses of Hmong Veterans aren’t eligible for interment or any other burial benefits, even if they were naturalized under the 2000 Act.
What’s Public Law 115-141?
Public Law 115-141 allows eligible Hmong Veterans to be buried in a national cemetery. Be sure to refer to it when requesting burial benefits.
When you call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office in your time of need, tell the scheduler you’re requesting interment under PL115-141.
When you’re filling out a VA Form 40-10007 Application for Pre-need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery, write “PL115-141” in Block 5. Write the Certification of Naturalization Registration “A” number in Block 6, and select Other in Block 13.
When requesting a headstone or marker for burial in a private cemetery using VA Form 40-1330, write “PL115-141” and the Certification of Naturalization Registration “A” number in Block 33.
