Burying a Loved One: Burial Benefits

VA burial benefits include a gravesite at any open national cemetery, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family.

VA will provide a partial reimbursement of an eligible veteran's burial and funeral costs, known as a burial allowance, when the death os service-connected. When the cause of death is not service-connected, the reimbursement is known as a burial and funeral expense allowance and a plot interment allowance.

Arlington National Cemetery
Eligibility for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, which is under jurisdiction of the Department of the Army, is more limited than eligibility requirements for VA national cemetery. Servicemembers who are eligible for burial at Arlington are those who died on active duty or active reserve service which qualifies them for retired pay either upon retirement or at age 60, abd those retired for disability; veterans honorably discharged at 30% or more disability before October 1, 1949; holders of the Nation's highest military decorations (Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Air force Cross or Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, and Silver Star or the Purple Heart); and the spouse or unmarried minor child of any of the above.

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