Veterans Affairs Department Proposed Rule

2022-02682: Requesting Disinterment of an Eligible Decedent From a National Cemetery

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Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend regulations governing disinterment of eligible decedents interred in VA national cemeteries. The amendment is necessary to clarify the requirements that must be met before VA can decide a disinterment request. Clarification of the requirements will help ensure consistent administration of disinterment requests at all VA national cemeteries. Current regulations permit disinterment only when all living immediate family members of the decedent, and the person who initiated the interment (whether or not such person is a member of the immediate family), all give their written consent, or when VA receives an order from a court or State instrumentality of competent jurisdiction directing the disinterment. We propose to clarify that if the individual who initiated the interment does not consent, or is not alive to provide consent, or all living immediate family members are not in agreement, anyone seeking disinterment of an eligible decedent must obtain an order from a court or State instrumentality of competent jurisdiction to direct the disinterment. This clarification will support the regulatory principle that all burials in national cemeteries are considered permanent and final and that a disinterment will be permitted only for cogent reasons, preserve the intent of the individual who initiated the interment, and ensure that a court or other appropriate entity rather than VA will adjudicate family disputes.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

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