Code of Federal Regulations Title 38. Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief § 38.12.6 Cases of living veterans

(1) To the owner if competent, or if deceased to his or her administrator or executor or as directed in writing by such owner, or his or her executor or administrator.

(2) To the guardian of the owner if the latter be incompetent, or if deceased to his or her administrator or executor, or as directed in writing by such guardian, executor or administrator.

(3) To the incompetent owner if he or she has no guardian;  delivery, however, to the incompetent owner may be withheld and may be made to the person who is caring for such incompetent if, in the judgment of the facility head or his or her designated representative, such delivery is to the incompetent's best interest.

Note:  The Government will not pay expense of transportation of effects of competent or incompetent veterans discharged, on trail visit, absent without leave, or who have eloped, except that personal effects of a beneficiary discharged or on trail visit, or of a beneficiary being transferred to another facility at Government expense, which are not available at time of discharge, beginning of trail visit, or transfer of the beneficiary, due to the articles being in custody of the Government, may be shipped at Government expense.