Migraines aren’t just headaches. They can severely impact a person’s ability to live, work, and maintain relationships, and cause a variety of symptoms aside from pain. If you have migraines and suspect they were caused or worsened by your time in service, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits.
This article explains what migraines are, how to get a VA disability rating for migraines, and what veterans can do if their migraines prevent them from working.
Key Takeaways
- Migraines can be rated at 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50% disabling by the VA.
- 50% is the maximum rating that can be awarded for migraines.
- Deployment increases the risk of developing migraines.
- Migraines are often found in combination with TBIs and mental health conditions.
Don’t fight the VA alone
In this article about the VA disability rating for migraines:
Migraines in veterans
Migraines are throbbing or pulsing headaches. They are more severe and debilitating than an average headache, and may make an individual sensitive to light, sound, and smells, nauseous, weak, and fatigued. Sometimes migraines are accompanied by auras, which are sensory disturbances that can warn an individual a migraine is coming on.
Migraines are diagnosed more commonly in veterans than civilians. Deployment during military service is associated with an even higher risk, with one study finding 36% of participants who deployed to Iraq for at least a year experienced migraine symptoms.
Additionally, the VA has recognized many veterans who have migraines experience more severe symptoms than non-veterans. More than a million veterans currently receive VA disability compensation for migraines, making it the ninth most commonly service-connected condition.
VA disability ratings for migraines
Migraines are rated using diagnostic code 8100 under the Schedule of Ratings for neurological conditions and convulsive disorders.
The VA will assign a rating of 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50%, depending on the frequency and severity of your symptoms. The criteria is as follows:
Ratings are primarily determined based on how often you have “prostrating attacks.” The term has been interpreted as the level of incapacitation a person experiences during a migraine.
“Oftentimes, veterans with completely prostrating headaches will report that during a headache, they must lie down in a dark room until the headache subsides,” said VA disability lawyer Zack Evans.
50% VA rating for migraines
A 50% VA rating for migraines is the highest level of disability veterans can receive for the condition. In order to receive a 50% migraine VA rating, veterans will need to prove their migraines are very frequent, completely prostrating, prolonged, and create severe economic inadaptability. But what does all that mean?
As mentioned above, a prostrating attack has to do with the level of incapacitation you experience during your migraines. If your migraines are severe enough that they force you to stop other activities to lie down and rest for long periods of time, this may make you more likely to qualify for a 50% rating for the condition.
Attacks must also happen frequently. Unlike a 10% or 30% rating, the VA does not qualify what “very frequent” means for a 50% rating. However, we know veterans must have prostrating migraine attacks at least once a month, on average, to qualify for a 30% rating.
Additionally, the 50% VA rating for migraines is the only rating level with criteria that specifically mentions economic inadaptability. This can be interpreted to mean your migraines significantly interfere with your ability to show up for or maintain a job.
“A lot of people don’t get treatment for headaches. You can get a 50% rating for prostrating headaches a certain number of times a month,” explained VA disability lawyer Zack Evans. “[The VA] will deny because there’s no record showing prostrating headaches, but the VA’s supposed to look at the symptoms and not the treatment. So you can develop that through the veteran’s own testimony, through lay statements from people who are around the veteran all the time, and a doctor interviewing the veteran.”
Migraines and related conditions
Several comorbidities are commonly seen among patients with migraines. These include:
- PTSD. Research suggests there may be a connection between migraines and PTSD. Although the relationship between the two conditions is not fully understood, triggers for migraines can include stress, poor sleep habits, hormonal changes, and alcohol and nicotine use. All of these may be caused or worsened by PTSD. Regardless of the exact reasoning, studies have consistently shown PTSD is associated with an increased likelihood of frequent migraine and headache symptoms.
- TBI. Migraines and headaches are a common complication for individuals with a TBI, often cited as one of or even the most common symptom or residual. They may be more likely to continue long term in cases of moderate or severe TBI.
- Cardiovascular issues. Research suggests some people who get migraines with auras may also be at an increased risk of heart attack, as well as arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
If you have service-connected migraines and develop one of these conditions, you may be owed additional compensation. Likewise, you may be owed VA disability for migraines if they can be tied to another service-connected illness.
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TDIU for migraines
In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for migraines. TDIU is also known as individual unemployability or, simply, IU. Veterans are eligible for these benefits if they can’t hold down “substantially gainful” employment due to their service-connected conditions.
Veterans with migraines may struggle to work for a variety of reasons, but especially if their attacks are frequent, severe, and long lasting, or if they have other service-connected health problems.
Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
How Woods & Woods can help
In summary, veterans can receive VA disability for migraines if the condition is connected to their service. Migraines may also be tied to PTSD, TBI, and cardiovascular issues in some cases for increased monthly compensation. If you’re a veteran whose migraines make work difficult or impossible, our VA disability lawyers are here to help.
Our TDIU lawyers have helped thousands of veterans nationwide who can no longer work because of their service-connected conditions. Call us today for your free, confidential TDIU case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we win your claim.
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Frequently asked questions
In order to receive a 50% migraine VA rating, veterans will need to prove their migraines are very frequent, completely prostrating, prolonged, and create severe economic inadaptability.
Veterans whose service-connected migraines are so severe they can no longer work may qualify for TDIU benefits that pay at the 100% disability rate.
Migraines are rated using diagnostic code 8100 at 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50% depending on how often you have prostrating attacks.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
