Disinterments From National Cemeteries

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing a final rule to amend regulations concerning disinterments from national cemeteries. Current regulations permit disinterment of persons buried in a national cemetery with the consent of immediate family members. Previously, the definition of immediate family members included a surviving spouse only if unmarried. The regulation change defines immediate family members for purposes of disinterments to include a surviving spouse whether or not the spouse had remarried. This is necessary since the emotional ties of the surviving spouse are sufficient to justify his or her consent as a condition of disinterment. This document also makes nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarification.