Dept Veteran Affairs: Denial of burial plot benefits for dad

I've sent this denial of benefits form off to the funeral director and my dad's brother who applied for this benefit for me at the time we buried my dad a few months ago. At the time, I was too distraught to understand or retain much of the information that was told to me so I now have a few questions. I thought I would try to find out more information while I await a response from them.

My questions:

1. What exactly is included in the plot or interment allowance for veterans? Is this the military salute and flag presentation at his burial service? Does it cover some of the burial fees? We paid an extra $700 for a military service grave marker. Is that also being denied now?

2. The form says the claim was denied because my dad died on or after November 1, 1990, the effective date of PL 101-509, the Budget Reconciliation Act.

What is that about? I did a brief Google search and could find nothing relating to burial benefits and this Act.

3. The form also says the claim was denied because my dad was not entitled to the burial allowance or was not discharged from service due to line-of-duty disabilities.

I have no idea whether the family has any paper trail as evidence of my dad's military service. All I have are photos of him in uniform in Italy, one of him holding a newspaper with a bunch of army buddies when WW2 ended. I also have his American Legion hats and medals and a citation from the American Legion recognizing and thanking my dad for his service and long-standing membership in the American Legion.

How do I go about finding out if my dad is enitled to the burial allowance and if he is entitled, what can I do to prove he was in the service if there is no paperwork to show?

These are the photos I have and the inscription on the back of them. Does anyone see anything in the photos or inscriptions that would help me find proof that my dad has a right to those burial benefits because he is an army veteran of WW2?


Inscription: Barracks at Camp Stoneman, Pittsburg, CA, 1942


Inscription: V-E Day in Italy. (Dad is on the left and Wayne Lovejoy is next to him holding a newspaper with banner headlines reading "Nazi Armies In Italy Surrender!" I don't know the names of the others.)



Thanks for any help you can give. I'm still pretty sensitive about my dad's death and have a difficult time dealing with any of this stuff without crying a lot. It makes it difficult to focus so I can more easily understand this stuff.