VA Form 40-1330 — Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker

What is VA Form 40-1330?

VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker, asks the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration for a government headstone or marker for the grave of an eligible deceased veteran in a private or local government cemetery. It can also claim a memorial headstone or marker when the remains weren't recovered or identified, were buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and scattered.

The form gives VA everything it needs to inscribe and ship the stone: the veteran's name, service dates and branch; optional inscription items such as highest rank, valor awards, periods of war, an emblem of belief and a short term of endearment; the type of headstone or marker; and who accepts delivery and where the grave is. The applicant can also ask for extra Presidential Memorial Certificates. The current edition is MAR 2025, and the form says all previous versions are obsolete.

FileIt walks you through each block in plain English, checks the inscription fits the marker you choose, and prints your answers into VA's own PDF. You then sign it, get the consignee's and cemetery's signatures where needed, and submit it to VA with a copy of the discharge papers.

Who needs to fill out VA Form 40-1330?

• Families of a veteran buried in a private or local government cemetery who want a government headstone or flat marker on the grave.
• Families of a veteran whose remains were cremated and scattered, buried at sea or never recovered, who want a memorial marker in a cemetery.
• Families who want a bronze niche marker for a columbarium or mausoleum, or to add to a private headstone (for deaths on or after November 1, 1990).
• Personal representatives responsible for the burial, and state or county veterans service officers helping a family.
• Funeral homes or cemeteries responsible for the unclaimed remains of a veteran.
• Families replacing a government headstone or marker that needs replacing.

When to use VA Form 40-1330

• After a veteran's burial in a private cemetery, or after the disposition of the remains for a memorial marker. VA furnishes a memorial marker only after that.
• When a veteran who died before November 1, 1990 still has an unmarked grave.
• When a veteran who died on or after November 1, 1990 has a private headstone and the family also wants a government marker or niche marker.
• When a government-furnished headstone needs to be replaced. Tick Replacement and explain why in block 33.

What you need before you start

• The veteran's legal name, Social Security number and/or service number, place of birth, and dates of birth and death.
• The dates entered and separated from active duty, and the branch of service, from the DD Form 214 or equivalent.
• Any optional inscription items with their documentation: highest rank, prisoner of war status, valor or Purple Heart awards.
• The type of headstone or marker the cemetery allows, and any emblem of belief number from VA's current list.
• The name, street address (no P.O. box) and phone of the business that will accept delivery, and the cemetery's name, address and phone.
• Your own name, mailing address, phone and email, and your relationship to the veteran.

What’s on VA Form 40-1330

The 2025 edition has 5 pages. FileIt asks for it in 8 parts, and it is signed by Applicant (family member, representative or vso) and Consignee accepting delivery (block 27) and Cemetery official (block 31):

1. Request (blocks 1 to 6)Applicant (family member, representative or vso)
2. Veteran's service and identifying information (blocks 7 to 12)Applicant (family member, representative or vso)
3. Branch, awards and the headstone or marker (blocks 13 to 18)Applicant (family member, representative or vso)
4. About you, the applicant (blocks 19 to 22)Applicant (family member, representative or vso)
5. Where the grave isApplicant (family member, representative or vso)
6. Delivery: the consignee (blocks 25 to 28)Consignee accepting delivery (block 27)
7. The cemetery (blocks 29 to 32)Cemetery official (block 31)
8. Remarks (block 33)Applicant (family member, representative or vso)

How to fill out VA Form 40-1330, step by step

1 Blocks 1 to 6: The request and the name to inscribe

Say whether this is a first request or a replacement, and tick block 2 if the remains aren't buried, with a short explanation (for example, buried at sea). Give the name exactly as it should be inscribed. The form says no nicknames or titles in block 3.

Block 4 asks whether the grave already has a privately purchased, permanent marker. For a veteran who died before November 1, 1990, VA marks only an unmarked grave, so the answer must be No. Blocks 5 and 6 are for statistics only.

2 Blocks 7 to 12: Service and identifying information

Give the SSN and/or service number, place of birth, and dates of birth and death, using numbers only. Blocks 10A and 10B are the active duty dates. Use block 33 for more periods.

Highest rank (block 11, no pay grade) and prisoner of war status (block 12) are optional inscription items. If you include them, VA needs documentation.

3 Blocks 13 to 17: Branch, awards, marker type, wars and emblem

Tick every branch served, consistent with the rank in block 11. Valor or Purple Heart awards (block 14) are optional and need documentation. Choose one headstone or marker type in block 15 and make sure the cemetery allows it: upright marble or granite, flat bronze, granite or marble, small flat granite, or a bronze niche marker.

Periods of war (block 16) can be inscribed for service during a recognized period of war even outside the war zone, but country names such as Afghanistan or Iraq only if the veteran served there. Block 17 takes an emblem of belief number from VA's list.

4 Block 18: Additional inscription

A term of endearment, credential or special unit designation, in Latin letters and numbers, subject to VA approval. Space depends on the marker. Upright headstones allow up to four lines of 15 characters. Flat bronze, granite and marble markers and niche markers allow two lines of 27, and the small flat granite marker two lines of 22, spaces included.

5 Blocks 19 to 22: You, the applicant

Give your name, mailing address, phone and email, and say whether you're a family member (with your relationship), a veterans service officer or the personal representative, who must include written authorization. Block 21 is only for unclaimed remains. In block 22, ask for a number of Presidential Memorial Certificates, or tick None. VA sends one if you leave it blank.

6 Blocks 23 to 35: Signatures, delivery and the cemetery

Sign and date blocks 23 and 24. Unless the grave is in a State Veterans' Cemetery, fill in the consignee who will accept prepaid delivery (a street address, never a P.O. box) and have their representative sign block 27, and the cemetery where the grave is, whose official signs block 31. Blocks 34 and 35 are for State or tribal cemeteries only. Use block 33 for remarks such as the reason for a replacement.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Putting a nickname or title in the name block. Use block 18 for terms of endearment or credentials.
• An inscription that's too long for the chosen marker, or includes non-Latin characters.
• Giving a P.O. box as the delivery address. VA won't deliver to a P.O. box.
• Missing the consignee's or cemetery official's signature for a private cemetery.
• Including rank or awards without sending documentation.
• Not attaching a copy of the discharge papers. If you can't find them, apply anyway and VA will try to get them.
• Faxing several claims in one call. The form asks you to fax each claim package separately.

After you fill it out

Sign and date block 23, collect the consignee's and cemetery official's signatures if needed, and submit the claim with a copy of the DD Form 214 or other proof of service. Page 1 of the form gives the ways to submit: VA's Quick Submit through AccessVA, fax to 1-800-455-7143, or mail to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547. Don't send originals. They won't be returned.

FileIt keeps the completed claim in your vault, so the family has a record of exactly what was asked to be inscribed.

VA ships the headstone or marker to the consignee at no charge. The consignee unloads it and checks the inscription before installation. VA doesn't pay to install it in a private cemetery. Questions go to VA's Applicant Assistance Unit at 1-800-697-6947.

VA Form 40-1330: frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (National Cemetery Administration): https://www.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA40-1330.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.va.gov/find-forms/about-form-40-1330/
• Edition shown on this page: VA Form 40-1330, MAR 2025, OMB No. 2900-0222, expires 09/30/2027 (checked 2026-09-28).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (National Cemetery Administration) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.

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