It comes as a big surprise, given the seriousness of burying a loved one, but the VA’s National Cemetery Administration (NCA) just earned an extremely high score on satisfaction with its services. As measured by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) of over 100 government services and agencies for 2025, the NCA ranked 98 out of 100, the highest score ever. The NCA twice earned a score of 97, while the average of other government agencies was 70.4.
Last year the NCA buried over 130,000 veterans and their family members at the 157 national cemeteries in 44 states. Burial and memorial benefits include a gravesite, perpetual care of the site, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a marker or medallion, a burial flag given at the funeral and military funeral honors that include the playing of “Taps.”
If you’re a veteran, have you made your final plans yet? Are they in writing? When the time comes, it will be easier on your family if arrangements have already been concluded. You can do this by having a pre-need determination done (VA Form 40-100007) to determine your eligibility and approval for burial.
Start with va.gov/burials-memorials and click “Eligibility.” Have your DD-214 in hand. If you need help, call them at 800-535-1117.
To learn more about your burial and memorial benefits, see
www.cem.va.gov/burial-memorial-benefits.
As part of advance planning, consider the Veterans Legacy Memorial website (www.vlm.cem.va.gov)]. Each veteran buried at a VA national cemetery has a webpage listing name, dates of birth and death, war period served, decorations, rank and more. Family members can later add photos and documents if they wish. Your advanced planning might include a handful of photos and information you’d like to see added later. Include the phone number 866-245-1490 in your information in case your family needs help with uploading files when the time comes.
Be sure your family knows where you’re keeping your pre-need approval and Veterans Legacy Memorial documents.•
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