Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker for Installation in Private or State Veterans Cemetery

Description of Changes to VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) is proposing changes to VA Form 40-1330, Claim for Standard Government Headstone or Marker. Please see the attached form with proposed changes in highlight.

In 2900-AQ28, Government-Furnished Headstones, Markers, and Medallions; Unmarked Graves, VA proposed to include updated certification language that would apply to requests for headstones and markers for placement in private and local governmental cemeteries. Below is the edited certification language that would appear above Block 28 on the form.

CERTIFICATION: By signing below, I agree to accept prepaid delivery of the headstone or marker for placement on the gravesite for which it is requested, or if placement on the grave is impossible or impracticable, as close to the grave as possible within the grounds of the private or local governmental cemetery where the grave is located.”

Additionally, we propose to require private cemetery representatives to certify that placement of Government-furnished burial and memorial headstones and markers adheres to the cemetery’s guidelines and policies. Below is the edited certification language that would appear above Block 30 on the form.

CERTIFICATION: By signing below, I certify the type and placement of the headstone or marker requested in block 15 adheres to the policies and guidelines of the selected private cemetery in block 27.

Further, NCA is making the following non-substantive text edits to the form:

• Block 5: add check box for ASIAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN. NCA notes that the addition of the ASIAN OR ASIAN AMERICAN check box is a correction of an unintentional omission for this standard category for race and ethnicity.

• Block 12: update parenthetical to (OPTIONAL, BUT IF INCLUDED, NO PAY GRADES)

• Block 14: update parenthetical to (OPTIONAL, BUT IF INCLUDED PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION)

• Block 16: update parenthetical to (OPTIONAL, BUT IF PROVIDED CHECK ALL APPLICABLE BOXES)

• Inscription Information/Optional Items: update to clarify example of war service.

VA will update the date of the form once OMB approval of the proposed changes is received.