Burial benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA) are payable only under certain conditions (see below from the excellent website maintained by the VA).

You may be eligible for a VA burial allowance if:

• you paid for a veteran’s burial or funeral, AND
• you have not been reimbursed by another government agency or some other source, such as the deceased veteran’s employer, AND
• the veteran was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:

• the veteran died because of a service-related disability, OR
• the veteran was receiving VA pension or compensation at the time of death,  OR
• the veteran was entitled to receive VA pension or compensation, but decided not to reduce his/her military retirement or disability pay, OR
• the veteran died while hospitalized by VA, or while receiving care under VA contract at a non-VA facility,  OR
• the veteran died while traveling under proper authorization and at VA expense to or from a specified place for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care, OR
• the veteran had an original or reopened claim pending at the time of death and has been found entitled to compensation or pension from a date prior to the date or death,  OR
• the veteran died on or after October 9, 1996, while a patient at a VA-approved state nursing home.