M21-1MR, Part VII, Chapter 5, Section C

In this Section

Introduction

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  who is eligible
  
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  who is not eligible
  
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  death before November 1, 1990
  
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  death on or after November 1, 1990
  
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  furnishing a memorial headstone or marker when there is no grave
  
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  costs associated with transportation and placement
  
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  required application, and
  
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  address for referral of requests.
  

Change Date

a. Who Is Eligible

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  buried in a national, State-owned, or post cemetery, or
  
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  eligible for burial in a national cemetery but not buried there, provided the Veteran
  

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  meets the length of service requirements as established by Public Law (PL) 96-342, or
  
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  died while on active military, naval, or air service, or
  
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  was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force, whose death occurred while attending or on authorized travel to a training camp or practice cruise, or while hospitalized or undergoing treatment at the expense of the United States for injury or disease incurred during an authorized training camp or practice cruise
  
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  was a member of the Reserve component of the Armed Forces or the Army National Guard, whose death occurred 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
  
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  was a member of specifically designated groups recognized as Veterans as a result of 1977 legislation allowing the Department of Defense to grant military discharges for certain wartime service previously considered civilian, or
  
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  was a soldier of the Union and Confederate Armies of the Civil War.
  

b. Who Is Not Eligible

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  convicted of a Federal capital crime for which that person was sentenced to death or life imprisonment
  
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  convicted of a State capital crime for which that person was sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole
  
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  found to have committed a Federal or State capital crime but has not been convicted by reason of being unavailable for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution.
  

c. Death Before November 1, 1990

d. Death on or After November 1, 1990

e. Furnishing a Memorial Headstone or Marker When There Is No Grave

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  have not been recovered or identified, or
  
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  were
  

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  buried at sea, or
  
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  donated to medical science, or
  
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  cremated and the remains scattered.
  

f. Costs Associated with Transportation and Placement

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  transportation of the headstone from the consignee’s address to the private cemetery, or
  
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  erection of the headstone at the grave.
  

g. Required Application

h. Address for Referral of Requests

Department of Veterans Affairs

5109 Russell Road

Quantico, VA 22134-3903

Introduction

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  eligibility requirements for non-government headstones and markers
  
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  reimbursement for service recognized under PL 95-202
  
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  required application for headstone reimbursement, and
  
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  eligible claimants for non-government headstones.
  

Change Date

a. Eligibility Requirements for Non-Government Headstones and Markers

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  have been buried on or after October 18, 1978
  
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  have died prior to November 1, 1990, and
  
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  have been otherwise entitled to a Government headstone or marker.
  

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  The deceased’s grave or memorial site must not have been previously marked for the deceased.
  
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  The headstone or marker must have been privately purchased for placement in a non-national cemetery.
  

b. Reimbursement for Service Recognized under PL 95-202

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  a Veteran who died before his/her service was recognized under PL 95-202, if
  
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    he/she was buried on or after October 18, 1978, the date of enactment of the law providing for payment of the headstone or marker benefit, and
    
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    died prior to October 31, 1990.
    

c. Required Application for Headstone Reimbursement

d. Eligible Claimants for Non-Government Headstones

Introduction

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  required evidence for reimbursement of marker expenses
  
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  time limit for headstone reimbursement
  
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  the amount payable for nongovernment markers
  
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  priority of payment, and
  
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  reimbursement
  

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  for prepaid headstones or markers, and
  
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  when no administrator or executor exists.
  

Change Date

a. Required Evidence for Reimbursement of Marker Expenses

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  the name of the deceased Veteran for whom the headstone, marker, or additional engraving was purchased,
  
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  a description of the nature and cost of the merchandise or services
  
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  the name of the persons who made payment, and
  
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  the amount of any unpaid balance.
  

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  Do not accept an affidavit or other statement by the claimant purporting to show payment in lieu of a receipted bill.
  
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  Retain all evidence received in connection with the claim and do not return receipts submitted in support of it.
  

b. Time Limit for Headstone Reimbursement

c. Amount Payable for Nongovernment Markers

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  actual cost of the non-government headstone, marker, or additional engraving, or
  
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  amount determined by the VA National Cemetery Administration to be in effect at the time of purchase.
  

d. Priority of Payment

e. Reimbursement for Prepaid Headstones or Markers

f. Reimbursement When No Administrator or Executor Exists

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  signs a statement attesting to this fact, and
  
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  indicates that he/she will distribute the payment under the laws of the State of the decedent’s domicile.