How to Get a VA Rating for Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are one of the most debilitating conditions that many veterans deal with, yet they’re often misunderstood and undercompensated by the VA.
If you’re a veteran struggling with chronic migraines that affect your quality of life and ability to function, you deserve disability compensation.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to get a VA rating for migraine headaches, explain the 38 CFR rating criteria with examples, and share some pro tips and strategies to maximize your chances of getting the rating you deserve.
Understanding Migraine Headaches and VA Disability
Migraine headaches are more than just severe headaches.
They often involve throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and even visual disturbances like seeing auras, among other symptoms.
Migraines can be incapacitating, preventing veterans from working, driving, or performing daily activities.
The VA acknowledges migraine headaches as a compensable condition if you can prove they are service-connected.
To get a VA rating for migraines, you need to show that your headaches are related to your military service, either directly or as a secondary condition (e.g., migraines secondary to PTSD, tinnitus, or a traumatic brain injury).
38 CFR VA Disability Ratings for Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are rated under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100.
The VA rates migraines based on the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms and how those symptoms negatively impact your ability to work and function.
Here’s the breakdown of the VA migraine rating criteria from 0% to 50% with breaks at 10% and 30%:
50% VA Rating for Migraines: Very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability
A 50% rating is the highest possible rating for migraines and is awarded when a veteran experiences very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks that severely impact their ability to work. The term “severe economic inadaptability” means that the migraines significantly impair the veteran’s ability to maintain employment.
Example: A veteran has migraines several times a week, and each migraine lasts for several hours or even days. During these attacks, the veteran is forced to lie down in a dark room, unable to work or function. Due to the frequency and severity of the migraines, the veteran has had to reduce their work hours or has been unable to maintain stable employment. The VA would likely assign a 50% rating because the migraines severely disrupt the veteran’s economic livelihood.
30% VA Rating for Migraines: Characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months
A 30% rating is given to veterans who experience prostrating migraines — those that force them to stop all activity and rest — occurring about once a month on average. These migraines may be severe but not frequent enough to completely prevent employment.
Example: A veteran has a migraine once a month that lasts for a full day, during which they need to lie down in a dark room, away from any noise or light. While the migraines are debilitating, the veteran can still work most of the time. However, they are forced to take at least one sick day every month due to the migraine. Based on this frequency and severity, the VA would assign a 30% rating.
10% VA Rating for Migraines: Characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months
A 10% rating is for veterans who experience prostrating migraines but less frequently, about once every two months. These migraines may cause temporary impairment but are not frequent enough to significantly disrupt employment or daily activities.
Example: A veteran experiences a migraine that forces them to rest in a dark room for several hours once every two months. While the migraines are painful and debilitating during those episodes, they are infrequent enough that the veteran can work and function most of the time. The VA would assign a 10% rating due to the lower frequency of the prostrating attacks.
0% VA Rating for Migraines: Less frequent attacks
A 0% rating is assigned to veterans who experience migraines but with infrequent or non-prostrating attacks. This means that while the veteran may have migraines, they do not occur often enough or are not severe enough to warrant compensation.
Example: A veteran has mild migraines a few times a year that cause discomfort but do not force them to stop activities or rest. These migraines are manageable with over-the-counter medication, and the veteran can continue working without major disruptions. In this case, the VA would assign a 0% rating, acknowledging the condition but determining it does not cause significant impairment.
What Do “Prostrating Attacks” Mean?
A key factor in the VA’s rating for migraines is whether the attacks are “prostrating.”
Prostrating means that the headaches are so severe that you’re forced to lie down or rest in a dark, quiet room to recover.
Prostrating attacks are those that completely incapacitate you and interrupt your daily life.
For a 50% migraines VA rating, you’ll need to prove that your migraines are so frequent and severe that they cause “severe economic inadaptability,” meaning they significantly impact your ability to maintain employment.
How to Prove Service Connection for Migraines
To get a VA rating for migraines, you must establish a service connection.
There are three main ways to do this:
- Direct Service Connection: You can link your migraines directly to an event, injury, or illness that occurred during your military service. For example, if you suffered a head injury or experienced exposure to environmental hazards, this could be the cause of your migraines.
- Secondary Service Connection: If your migraines are caused by or aggravated by another service-connected condition, such as PTSD, tinnitus, or traumatic brain injury (TBI), you can file for secondary service connection.
- Presumptive Service Connection: For veterans who served in certain locations or were exposed to specific environmental hazards (like Gulf War Syndrome and burn pits), the VA may grant presumptive service connection for migraines if the condition manifests within a specific time frame.
Pro Tips and Strategies for Getting a VA Rating for Migraines
1. Get a Detailed Nexus Letter
- A nexus letter from a private healthcare provider is crucial in linking your migraines to your service or another service-connected condition. The letter should explain how your migraines are “at least as likely as not” related to your military service. Make sure the nexus letter is clear and backed by medical evidence.
2. Keep a Migraine Diary
- The VA will want to know how often you experience migraines and how severe they are. Keeping a migraine diary can provide valuable documentation. Track the dates, duration, and severity of each migraine attack, including any incapacitation or missed workdays. Be as detailed as possible. You can use a free app called Migraine Buddy to help you track the frequency, severity, and duration of your headaches.
3. Obtain Medical Evidence
- Medical records are critical for proving your condition to the VA. Make sure you have a diagnosis of headaches and that your doctor documents the frequency and severity of your migraines, noting whether they are prostrating and the impact they have on your ability to function.
4. Gather Buddy Statements
- Buddy statements from coworkers, family members, or friends can help corroborate your claim. These statements can describe how your migraines affect your work, relationships, and ability to perform daily tasks. Buddy statements provide a personal perspective on the impact of your condition.
5. Understand the VA Rating Criteria
- Remember that for a higher rating (30% or 50%), you must prove the frequency of prostrating attacks and demonstrate how they affect your ability to work. The more specific your evidence is regarding how migraines impact your daily life, the better chance you have of securing a higher rating.
Common Secondary Conditions Linked to Migraines
Many veterans experience migraines as a secondary condition to other service-connected disabilities.
Here are some common secondary claims linked to migraines:
- Migraines Secondary to PTSD: The stress and anxiety from PTSD can trigger or worsen migraine headaches.
- Migraines Secondary to TBI: Traumatic brain injuries are a common cause of migraines, especially for veterans who have experienced head trauma in service.
- Migraines Secondary to Tinnitus: The constant ringing or buzzing in the ears from tinnitus can lead to severe headaches and migraines.
If you already have a service-connected condition like PTSD, tinnitus, or TBI, make sure to file for secondary service connection for your migraines.
Pro Tip: File for Secondary Service Connection
If your migraines are caused or aggravated by another service-connected condition, file for secondary service connection.
This strategy often makes it easier to prove a link between your migraines and your military service, increasing your chances of approval.
What If You’re Denied? Appealing Your VA Migraine Rating
If the VA denies your claim or gives you a lower rating than you deserve, don’t give up.
You have the right to appeal the decision.
Here’s how:
- Submit New Evidence: If the VA didn’t have all the relevant medical records or nexus letters, submit new evidence to strengthen your case. You can do this with a Supplemental Claim.
- Request a Higher-Level Review: You can request that a more experienced VA decision reviewer look at your case. This is a good first step in the VA appeals process. But you can’t upload new evidence with the Higher Level Review option.
Final Thoughts
Migraine headaches can have a profound impact on your quality of life and your ability to work.
If you’re a veteran dealing with chronic migraines, don’t settle for anything less than the VA rating you deserve.
Make sure you gather solid medical evidence, submit a detailed claim, and use the tips and strategies I’ve shared to get the highest possible rating for your migraines.
About the Author
Brian Reese is one of the world’s leading VA disability benefits experts and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Frustrated with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans win their VA disability compensation faster. He has served over 10 million military members and veterans since 2013. A former Air Force officer, Brian deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. He is a Distinguished Graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University, where he was a National Honor Scholar.
