Veteran Burial Timeliness and Death Certificate Accountability Act

This bill would require a VA physician or nurse practitioner who is the veteran’s primary care provider to certify a veteran’s death within 48 hours after they learn of the death, but only when the death is due to natural causes. If the VA clinician cannot meet this deadline, a local coroner or medical examiner may certify the death instead. The act also requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report annually to Congress on compliance, including the percentage of timely certifications, the number of cases where timely certification was not possible, and the reasons for noncompliance. A rule of construction clarifies that nothing in the bill overrides applicable laws or licensing requirements in the jurisdiction where the death occurs. The bill aims to reduce delays that hinder burial arrangements and access to survivor benefits.