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Pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA cemetery

You can apply to find out in advance if you’re eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery. This is called a pre-need determination of eligibility—and it can help make the burial planning process easier for your family members in their time of need. Learn how to apply for a pre-need determination of eligibility.

Check if this is the right application process for you

This application is only for planning a burial in a VA national cemetery before the time of need.

Find out if you may be eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery

You’ll need to use a different application process in these cases:

How to prepare before starting your application 

Gather the information you’ll need to apply:

  • Your personal information, including Social Security number and date of birth
  • Your military history or the military history of the Veteran or service member you’re connected to
  • The name of your preferred VA national cemetery
    Find a VA national cemetery

Note: We can't guarantee that you'll be buried in your preferred cemetery. If your preferred cemetery isn't available at your time of need, we'll help your family select another cemetery with available space.

Gather supporting documents

To help us process your application faster, you can provide a copy of your DD214 or other separation documents (or the DD214 of the Veteran or service member you’re connected to). If you don’t provide a DD214, we'll try to find the records we need to determine eligibility.

You’ll need additional supporting documents in certain cases. If you don't have these documents now, you can submit them after you apply. But we can't process your application until we have all of these supporting documents.

If you’re applying on behalf of someone else

You’ll need to submit supporting documents or an affidavit showing you can apply on behalf of that person.

The supporting document or affidavit must show that one of these is true:

  • You’re the applicant’s court-appointed representative, or
  • You’re the applicant’s caregiver (including a spouse or other relative), or
  • You’re authorized to act as a durable power of attorney, or
  • You’re the principal officer (like a manager or director) of an institution where the applicant receives care

You’ll also need to submit one of these completed forms with the application:

Note: If you’re applying for more than one person in a family, you’ll need to fill out a separate application for each person.

If you’re applying for the adult dependent child of a Veteran

You’ll need to submit supporting documents with details about the adult dependent child’s disability. Ask the child’s current health care provider to verify the documents.

These documents should include all of this information:

  • The date when the disability began, and
  • A description of the disability, and
  • A description of how dependent the adult child living with the disability is on the Veteran, and
  • The adult child’s marital status

Note: If you're applying on behalf of an adult dependent child, you'll also need to submit the supporting documents listed on this page for people applying on behalf of someone else.

How to apply

You can apply for pre-need eligibility determination online, by mail, or by fax.

Option 1: Online

You can apply online right now.

Apply for pre-need eligibility determination online

Option 2: By mail or fax

Fill out an Application for Pre-need Determination of Eligibility for Burial in a VA National Cemetery (VA Form 40-10007).

Get VA Form 40-10007 to download

Mail the application and copies of any supporting documents to this address:

NCA Evidence Intake Center
PO Box 5237
Janesville, WI 53547

Or fax the application and copies of any supporting documents to the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at .

What to know if you're applying on behalf of someone else

If you're applying on behalf of someone else, one of these descriptions must be true for the applicant:

  • They have an illness, injury, or other health condition that prevents them from making decisions for themselves or providing the information needed to complete forms, or
  • They physically can't sign or submit the application

How to get help filling out your application

Call us at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711) and select 4. We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.

You can also work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to get help applying for pre-need determination.

Get help filling out an application

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