VA Burial Benefits in Maryland: What Veterans' Families Receive

VA burial benefits are available to veterans who served on active duty and received an honorable or general discharge (under honorable conditions). This includes service in the Regular Armed Forces, Reserve, National Guard, or federalized service during wartime or peacetime. Veterans with service-connected deaths or those receiving VA compensation or pension are eligible. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans may be buried in VA cemeteries if they have not remarried. Unmarried dependent children under age 21 (or 23 if enrolled full-time in an approved educational institution) are also eligible.

Discharge status is the primary eligibility factor. A dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, or dismissal from an officer generally disqualifies a veteran. However, some individuals with less-than-honorable discharges may appeal their characterization through the Board for Correction of Military Records.

There are no income or asset limits for VA burial benefits. The benefit applies regardless of whether the veteran was receiving disability compensation, pension, or other VA benefits at the time of death. Service length varies by service era; generally, federal law requires honorable service, but the specific length of service required depends on when the veteran served. All service eras are covered—from veterans of World War II through current active-duty personnel.

Presumptive conditions do not apply to burial benefits themselves, but a veteran's eligibility is based solely on discharge characterization and active service. Surviving spouses retain eligibility regardless of income, and dependent children maintain eligibility until they reach age limits. No citizenship requirement exists; non-citizen veterans who served honorably in the US Armed Forces are eligible. Burial benefits extend to any cemetery in the US, not just VA national cemeteries.

VA burial benefits for 2024 are provided at no cost to the veteran or family:

• Burial in VA national cemetery: Free (no plot or internment fees) • Headstone or grave marker: Free (marble, granite, or bronze options) • Burial flag: Free (presented at funeral) • Presidential Memorial Certificate: Free • Setting of remains: No charge if buried in VA cemetery • Grave opening and closing: No charge at VA cemetery

For burial outside VA national cemeteries, the VA does not pay burial expenses directly to funeral homes. However, the VA provides free headstones, markers, and burial flags regardless of burial location. Surviving spouses and dependents receive the same benefits at no cost. The VA reimburses eligible claimants up to $300 for burial and funeral expenses if the veteran was receiving VA compensation or pension at death; this reimbursement amount has not increased since 2011.

Maryland does not provide state-specific burial benefits or enhancements beyond the federal VA program. Burial benefits for Maryland veterans are administered entirely through the VA system, which operates 155 national cemeteries across the United States, including Arlington National Cemetery in nearby Virginia.

Maryland does have two VA national cemeteries located within the state: Loudon Park National Cemetery in Baltimore and Annapolis National Cemetery in Annapolis. These facilities offer the same burial benefits as all other VA cemeteries nationwide—free burial, headstones, grave opening and closing, and full funeral honors.

While Maryland itself does not augment VA burial benefits, the state does maintain a robust county veterans service officer network that can assist families in navigating the application process. These service officers are familiar with the VA system and can help complete paperwork and coordinate with the VA National Cemetery Administration.

Maryland veterans may also take advantage of the federal burial allowance reimbursement of up to $300 if the veteran was receiving VA compensation or pension at death. This is a federal benefit, not a state addition, but Maryland families should be aware it is available upon application. The state does not impose any additional requirements or restrictions on who may be buried in VA cemeteries within Maryland.

VA burial benefits claims are most commonly denied due to discharge characterization. A dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, or dismissal from court-martial makes a veteran ineligible. Applicants should request the veteran's DD Form 214 and verify the discharge is listed as honorable or general (under honorable conditions) before applying. If the discharge is less-than-honorable, the applicant must appeal through the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) before applying for burial benefits.

Missing or incomplete documentation is the second leading cause of denial. The VA requires a certified copy of the DD Form 214 and a death certificate; if either is missing, the claim will be denied or delayed. Maryland families often submit uncertified copies of military records, which the VA will not accept. Request certified documents from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) at 1-314-801-0800 or online at vetrecs.archives.gov. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

Incorrect names or identifying information causes processing delays and denials. If the veteran's name changed after military service (e.g., through marriage), provide legal documentation of the name change along with the DD Form 214. Mismatched social security numbers between the application and military records will trigger a denial request.

For headstone or marker requests outside VA national cemeteries, applications are occasionally denied if the cemetery does not permit VA markers. Verify with the cemetery in advance that it accepts VA headstones or monuments. Some privately-owned cemeteries have restrictions; the VA will not provide a marker if the cemetery refuses it.

Applicants sometimes fail to provide evidence that the veteran died, submitting only a funeral home statement instead of an official death certificate. The VA requires a certified death certificate issued by the state vital records office. Funeral home documents alone are insufficient. Order certified death certificates from the Maryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Office, at msa.maryland.gov/programs/vitalrecords/ or by phone at 410-764-3038.

VA burial benefits do not go through the standard VA appeals process (Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, or Board of Veterans' Appeals) because burial decisions are issued by the VA National Cemetery Administration (NCA), not the VA Regional Office. However, applicants can request reconsideration if a claim is denied.

If your burial application is denied, you have the right to request reconsideration. Contact the VA National Cemetery Administration at 1-800-697-6947 or submit a written request to the NCA at 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420. Explain why you believe the denial was in error and submit any additional evidence. Include the veteran's full name, social security number, and the reason for the denial stated in the VA letter.

For discharge characterization denials (the most common reason), the correct appeal path is through the Board for Correction of Military Records (BCMR) or the Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB), depending on the service branch. These boards review discharges that are claimed to be unjust or inequitable. File a BCMR appeal through the appropriate service branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, etc.). Allow 12-18 months for BCMR decisions. No filing fee is required. Free help is available through your county veterans service officer (CVSO) in Maryland; contact the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs at mva.maryland.gov or 410-260-3040.

For missing documentation denials, simply reapply with complete documents. Request certified DD Forms 214 from NPRC and certified death certificates from Maryland vital records, then resubmit. The NCA will process the corrected application within 5-7 business days of receipt. All appeals and reconsideration requests are free; never pay a fee to appeal a burial benefit denial.