Yes. Burial at sea does not disqualify a veteran from receiving a Government-furnished headstone, marker, or medallion. Because there are no remains in the ground, the marker is placed as a memorial rather than a grave marker, and VA refers to this as an "in memoriam" or memorial marker. It can be placed on a privately owned plot (such as a family cemetery plot), in a state veterans cemetery, or in a national cemetery memorial section, depending on where the family wants it and what that cemetery allows.
To apply, the next of kin or authorized applicant files VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Government Medallion or Headstone to Commemorate Veteran's Service in the United States Armed Forces. When completing the form for a burial at sea, the applicant checks the box or writes in that the veteran was buried at sea and the marker is requested for a memorial gravesite, not an actual interment. Supporting documents typically include a copy of the veteran's discharge paperwork (DD Form 214 or equivalent) and, if placement is on private property, written permission from the cemetery or property owner where the marker will be placed. If the plot is in a national or state veterans cemetery, that cemetery's office generally coordinates the paperwork and headstone request directly with VA's National Cemetery Administration.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →The family should also be aware that the veteran's survivors may be eligible for a Presidential Memorial Certificate, which is a separate benefit from the headstone/marker program and is requested using VA Form 40-0247 or through the National Cemetery Administration's online request system.
Because policies and paperwork can vary slightly depending on whether the marker will sit in a national cemetery memorial section versus a private cemetery plot, it is worth confirming directly with the specific cemetery (national, state, or private) about their placement rules before submitting the VA form, since some private cemeteries have their own regulations about size, material, or inscription for memorial (non-burial) markers.
As a next step, the family should submit VA Form 40-1330 to the National Cemetery Administration, clearly noting that the veteran was buried at sea and that the headstone or marker is requested for memorial purposes at the privately owned plot.
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