The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA) recently published revised forms: VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker, and VA Form 40-1330M, Claim for a Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery.

Both forms are now available on VA’s website at www.va.gov/forms. All other versions of the VA Form 40-1330 are obsolete; when submitting forms for these benefits, please ensure you are using the most current version dated December 2017.

Why Did the NCA Change The Forms?

The revision of the forms are primarily a result of two recent changes in the law: 

Headstones and Markers

Under 38 CFR 38.600(a)(1) only the following individuals may apply for a burial headstone or marker:

1. A decedent’s family member;
2. A personal representative;
3. A representative of a Congressionally-chartered Veterans Service Organization;
4. An employee of a state or local government whose official responsibilities include serving Veterans;
5. Any individual who is responsible, under the laws of a state or locality, for the disposition of unclaimed remains or matters related to the decedent’s interment or memorialization; or
6. Any individual, if the dates of service of the Veteran ended prior to April 6, 1917.

Note: For a memorial headstones and markers that commemorate the memory of an eligible individual, the applicant must be a member of the decedent’s family, 38 CFR 38.600(a)(2).

Medallions

Public Law 114-315 authorizes VA to furnish a Government medallion in lieu of a traditional Government headstone or marker to Veterans who served on or after April 6, 1917, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker.  

What Was Changed On The Forms?

On VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker, the NCA updated the selection box for each eligible claimant (as identified under 38 CFR 38.600(a)(1)).  

On VA Form 40-1330M, Claim for a Government Medallion for Placement in a Private Cemetery, the NCA updated its General Information Sheet to reflect that Veterans who served on or after April 6, 1917, and whose grave in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased headstone or marker are eligible for a Government medallion. Previously, only Veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990 were eligible for the Government medallion.

Additionally, both forms now:

• Ask for demographic information (which is optional) for statistical reporting purposes only,
• Allow claimants to request one or more Presidential Memorial Certificates, and
• Include a fax cover sheet with a checklist for convenience.  

Should you have additional concerns regarding the headstone and marker, and medallion claim forms, please contact the NCA using its Inquiry Routing & Information System https://iris.custhelp.com, so they can track inquiries and respond promptly.