Burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no cost to the family for eligible veterans — this includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. If a family instead chooses a private cemetery, the veteran does not lose all benefits, but the type of support changes.
For burial in a private cemetery, the VA may reimburse part of the cost through a burial allowance and, in some cases, a plot or interment allowance, under 38 U.S.C. § 2302-2303 and 38 CFR § 3.1600. Eligibility and amounts depend on factors such as whether the death was service-connected, whether the veteran was receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of death, whether the veteran died in a VA facility, and whether the veteran was hospitalized by the VA at the time of death. A service-connected death generally provides a higher level of reimbursement and no filing deadline, while non-service-connected deaths have narrower eligibility rules and a filing deadline (generally two years from burial).
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 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
Upload your decision letter and C&P exams — VetAid's analyzer reads the full file, checks every examiner statement word-for-word against your records, and shows which arguments for a higher rating actually hold. Free, and we never take a cut of your back pay.
Analyze my claim free →Regardless of which cemetery is chosen, the veteran may still be entitled to a government-furnished headstone or marker (VA Form 40-1330) and a burial flag, even for private cemetery burial, as long as basic eligibility requirements are met.
Benefits are applied for using VA Form 21P-530a (Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker is a separate form, 40-1330). The person who paid for the burial and funeral expenses is generally the one who can file for reimbursement, and documentation such as the DD214, death certificate, and itemized funeral/burial receipts will be required.
Because eligibility and reimbursement levels vary significantly based on the circumstances of the veteran's service and death, it is worth contacting the VA National Cemetery Administration or a VA regional office directly, or working with the funeral home, to confirm what specific benefits apply before finalizing burial arrangements in a private cemetery.
Need a deeper analysis?
Our AI checks your situation against outcome data from 1,900,000+ Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decisions (1992–2025).
Analyze Your Claim Free