The process to bury a Veteran if they are unclaimed in San Diego

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) works with Veteran service groups, funeral industry partners, public administrators, and other concerned citizens to ensure the dignified burial of unclaimed Veterans.

A VA pension or other compensation is not a pre-requisite for unclaimed Veterans to receive burial benefits. Below is a step-by-step process for determining eligibility and arranging burial for unclaimed Veterans in San Diego.

Step 1:  Determine eligibility

Fax discharge documents and Unclaimed Remains Eligibility form to 866-900-6417 or email to ncaunclaimedrequest@va.gov. Then call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.  If no military discharge documents are available, the eligibility office will do research based on the Unclaimed Remains Eligibility form.  If the Veteran is eligible, you will receive a decedent identification number that can be used to schedule with your local national cemetery.

Please note:

• Veterans eligible for burial in a VA national, state, or tribal Veterans’ cemetery may receive a government furnished marker, U.S. Burial Flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, even if they are not buried in a VA National Cemetery.

 

• If a Veteran dies while at a VA facility under an authorized VA admission, and the remains are unclaimed, the facility director will ensure proper burial for the Veteran as defined by Section 213 of Public Law 114-223. The VA representative for San Diego is VA Veterans’ Health Administration, Decedent Affairs Coordinator.

 

• If a Veteran dies at a non-VA facility under authorized admission at VA’s expense, and is unclaimed, contact the VA Veterans’ Health Administration, Decedent Affairs Coordinator.

 

Step 2:  Arrange for the deceased, unclaimed Veteran’s burial.

 

San Diego County has one active national cemetery.  You can contact Miramar National Cemetery for assistance at 858-658-7360.  You will be asked for the decedent ID number you received from the National Cemetery Scheduling Office.

• The cemetery will work with the decedent’s personal representative (DPR) to arrange for delivery of remains/cremains, scheduling of committal service, and marker inscription.

 

Step 3: Apply for reimbursement of burial benefits associated with burial of unclaimed Veteran.

 

Organizations must be a registered vendor with VA Financial Service Center to receive reimbursement of casket/urn used to inter an unclaimed Veteran.

Use https://vaww.va.gov/vaforms/va/pdf/VA10091.pdf to register.  Instructions on how to fill out and submit the form are attached to the form.

 

Casket or Urn: An individual or entity that pays for the casket or urn used to inter an unclaimed Veteran in a VA national cemetery or a VA-funded state or tribal Veterans cemetery may apply for reimbursement of the purchase price using VA Form 40-10088, Request for Reimbursement of Casket/Urn. The casket or urn must meet certain standards and must be used for burial or inurnment of the unclaimed Veteran in a national cemetery or a VA-funded state or tribal Veterans’ cemetery. Reimbursement is for actual cost, not to exceed an annually established average, published each year in the Federal Register. Review the Casket or Urn Reimbursement Program section for current calendar year reimbursement amounts, standards for reimbursable caskets and urns, and instructions on how to apply.  You must submit a receipt showing how much was paid for the casket/urn.

 

Transportation to a National Cemetery (Transportation Reimbursement): Any individual or entity that pays for the transportation of an unclaimed Veteran's remains to a national cemetery for burial may apply for reimbursement of the costs using VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. The application must include a receipt, preferably on letterhead, showing who paid the costs, the name of the deceased Veteran, the specific transportation expenses incurred, and the dates of the services rendered. Reimbursement will not exceed the cost of transporting the unclaimed Veteran's remains to the national cemetery closest to the Veteran's last place of residence in which burial space is available. NOTE: Applicants should annotate "unclaimed remains" to define relationship to the Veteran when completing VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. Use one VA Form 21P-530, to apply for both the Transportation Reimbursement and Burial Allowance benefits.

 

Burial Allowance: Any individual or entity that pays for the costs associated with preparing the remains of an unclaimed Veteran for burial or inurnment may be eligible for a burial allowance. Submit burial allowance requests using VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. For more information, read VBA's Burial and Plot Interment Allowances Fact Sheet. NOTE: Applicants should annotate "unclaimed remains" to define relationship to the Veteran when completing VA Form 21P-530, Application for Burial Benefits. Use one VA Form 21P-530, to apply for both the Transportation Reimbursement and Burial Allowance benefits.

 

 

Local Points of Contact

San Diego County, Office of Public Administrator:

5560 Overland Ave, Suite 130, San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: 858-495-5176

Briana Brettillo, Email: briana.brettillo@sdcounty.ca.gov

Anabelle Llana, Email: anabelle.llana@sdcounty.ca.gov

Madelyn Ochoa-Wingate, Email: Madelyn.ochoa-wingate@sdcounty.ca.gov

Max Saucedo, Email: max.saucedo@sdcounty.ca.gov

 

VA Veterans Health Administration, Decedent Affairs Coordinator:

Phone: 858-552-7568

3350 La Jolla Village Drive, Room 1415C, San Diego, CA 92161

Alfonso Miranda, Email: alfonso.miranda@va.gov

 

VA Veterans Benefits Administration, Casualty Assistance Officer:

Phone: 619-400-1515

8810 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108

Email: Dir.vbasdc@va.gov

 

VA National Cemetery Administration, Miramar National Cemetery:

Phone: 858-658-7361 or 619-553-2084

5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122

Jaime Salome, Email: jaime.salome@va.gov

Reynaldo Rodriguez, Email: reynaldo.rodriguez1@va.gov

 

Funeral Director

Miramar Memorial Services

Phone: 858-566-9100

Charles Bailey, Email:charles.bailey@dignitymemorial.com