MNG-062 · DEATH, FAMILY & SURVIVORS
Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Navigate VA DIC eligibility, service-connected death evidence, VA Form 21P-534EZ, parent DIC, effective dates, current rates, and review rights.
Qualifying-death pathways
- The service member died while on qualifying duty, or
- The Veteran died from a service-connected illness or injury, or
- In specified cases, the Veteran had a qualifying total service-connected disability rating for the required period before death even though the immediate cause of death was not service-connected.
Build the cause-of-death evidence file
- Death certificate and autopsy/coroner records where material
- Service treatment, exposure and personnel records
- VA rating history and effective dates
- Terminal/hospital records and treating-physician evidence
- Marriage/birth/dependency evidence
- Prior VA claim decisions that bear on service connection
Effective date matters
VA currently states that when a DIC claim based on a post-service death is received within one year after death, the effective date can be the first day of the month in which the Veteran died. If filed later, the effective date is generally the date VA receives the claim. An intent to file can be useful when evidence must still be gathered.
Surviving spouses and children of Veterans generally use VA Form 21P-534EZ; surviving parents use VA Form 21P-535. For an active-duty service-member death, the casualty assistance officer may use the designated active-duty survivor application route.
Official sources
Source status: SRC-147; SRC-148; SRC-149; SRC-165; SRC-166; AUTH-023 verified October 4, 2026. Use the current eligibility, rate, form, and decision notice for the individual survivor.
