Fill VA Form 40-1330 online
Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker
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VA Form 40-1330 in short
VA Form 40-1330 is the claim for a free government headstone, grave marker or niche marker for an eligible deceased veteran. It is also used for a memorial headstone or marker when remains were not recovered, were buried at sea, donated to science, or cremated and scattered. VA also sends a Presidential Memorial Certificate when the veteran is eligible.
| Issued by | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), National Cemetery Administration |
|---|---|
| Current version | Rev. March 2025 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | An applicant as defined in the form's General Information Sheet: a family member, a personal representative, a representative of a Congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organization, a state, tribal or local government employee who serves veterans, or a person legally responsible for unclaimed remains. For a memorial headstone or marker, only a family member can apply. |
| Who receives it | VA's National Cemetery Administration, through the NCA FP Evidence Intake Center in Janesville, Wisconsin. |
| Where to send it | Online through QuickSubmit on AccessVA (https://eauth.va.gov/accessva/). By mail to: NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547. By fax to 1-800-455-7143, as printed on the form. If faxing more than one claim, the form says to fax each claim package separately. |
| Deadline | The form does not set a deadline. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF |
What changed
The MAR 2025 edition is current. The form says all previous versions are obsolete. VA did not publish a list of changes.
How to fill out VA Form 40-1330, line by line
| Blocks 1 and 2 | Type of request and remains not buried Mark an initial request or a replacement. Explain a replacement in block 33. Check block 2 if the remains are not buried, for example buried at sea or scattered, and explain. |
| Blocks 3 to 6 | Deceased's name and grave status The name exactly as it should be inscribed, with no nicknames or titles. Block 4 asks whether the grave is already marked with a privately purchased permanent marker. Race, ethnicity and sex are for statistics only. |
| Blocks 7 to 10 | Service and identifying details Social Security number and or service number, place and dates of birth and death, and dates entered and separated from active duty. Use numbers only for dates. |
| Blocks 11 to 14 | Rank, POW, branch and awards Highest rank, POW status and valor awards are optional inscription items. If you include POW status or awards, you must send documentation. Branch must match the rank. |
| Block 15 | Type of headstone or marker Choose one: flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble, small flat granite, upright marble, upright granite or bronze niche. Check that the cemetery allows the type you pick. |
| Blocks 16 to 18 | Optional inscription Periods of war, an emblem of belief by number, and an additional inscription or term of endearment. Space depends on the marker type and VA must approve additional text. |
| Blocks 19 to 24 | Applicant details and signature Your name, address, phone and email, your relationship to the deceased, how many Presidential Memorial Certificates you want, then your signature and date. |
| Blocks 25 to 28 | Consignee The business that will accept delivery, with a street address (no PO box) and phone. A person representing the business signs block 27. |
| Blocks 29 to 32 | Cemetery Name and address of the cemetery or family plot, and the signature of a cemetery official confirming the marker type and placement follow cemetery rules. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not attaching discharge papers such as a DD214. The form asks you to include military discharge documents.
- Writing None, Not Applicable or NA in required blocks. The form says VA will not accept these entries.
- Giving a PO box as the delivery address. VA will not deliver a headstone or marker to a PO box.
- Missing the consignee or cemetery official signatures in blocks 27 and 31. State veterans cemeteries do not need blocks 25 to 33.
- Choosing a marker type the cemetery does not allow.
- Typos in the name or dates. The form warns that inaccurate information can lead to an incorrect inscription.
- Adding POW status or awards without sending documentation.
- Sending original documents. The form says they will not be returned.
Questions about VA Form 40-1330
Does a government headstone cost anything?
VA furnishes the headstone or marker and ships it free to the consignee. The form says the government does not pay to install or remove it in private cemeteries, and does not pay for a concrete base.
Can I get a VA marker if the grave already has a private headstone?
For veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, VA says yes. For deaths before that date, VA only provides one for an unmarked grave.
How do I submit VA Form 40-1330?
Online through QuickSubmit on AccessVA, by mail to NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547, or by fax to 1-800-455-7143.
What is a Presidential Memorial Certificate?
An engraved paper certificate signed by the current president to honor an eligible veteran. VA sends one if the veteran is eligible for a headstone, marker or medallion. You can ask for more in block 22.
Can a spouse's details go on the veteran's headstone?
The form says spousal name and dates are authorized on a government headstone or marker if the veteran died on or after October 1, 2019.
Who can I call for help?
The form lists the Applicant Assistance Unit at 1-800-697-6947, or ask.va.gov.
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.