The VA Rating for Headaches Explained

Headaches – nearly all of us get them from time to time, but for some, they can become chronic, severe, and debilitating. In such cases, daily life and work can be affected, and you may begin wondering if the VA considers headaches a disability.

In this article, we explain the VA headaches rating, why some veterans are especially susceptible to headaches, and what to do if you can’t work due to chronic pain.

Headaches in veterans

There are many types of headaches including tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines. Acute headaches can often be secondary to other issues, like dehydration, sinus infections, and head injuries.

Nearly everyone will have occasional headaches throughout their lives, and oftentimes they are fleeting and mostly harmless. But for others, frequent, severe headaches may disrupt their daily lives or leave them bedridden for hours at a time.

16% of veterans receiving VA healthcare experience headaches. Additionally, more than 1.3 million veterans were receiving VA disability for migraine headaches in 2025, making it the ninth most commonly service-connected condition for benefits.

There also seems to be a link between Middle East deployment and headaches. One study found 36% of veterans who deployed to Iraq for at least a year experienced migraines.

What is the VA headaches rating?

Persistent, severe headaches can qualify you for VA disability if they are caused by your military service.

The VA rates headaches using diagnostic code 8100 as follows:

Description	VA Rating	Monthly payment (vet only)
With very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability	50%	$1,132.90
With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over last several months	30%	$552.47
With characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over last several months	10%	$180.42
With less frequent attacks	0%	None

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.

Headaches and related conditions

Various conditions may be linked to headaches. 

A veteran can receive a secondary VA rating for health problems caused or worsened by a service-connected health condition. 

Below we share some of the conditions that could be related to your headaches.

Migraine headaches and tinnitus

Research has consistently found a connection between migraine headaches and tinnitus.

Many individuals with tinnitus also report getting migraines, with some studies suggesting up to 45% of individuals with migraine headaches may also experience chronic ringing in their ears. In some cases, the tinnitus may be a symptom of the migraine. For example, tinnitus is often reported during vestibular migraines.

If your tinnitus can be tied to your service-connected headaches, you could be owed additional VA disability compensation.

How Does The VA Compensate For Migraine Headaches?

Headaches and TBI

Headaches are a common complication for individuals with a TBI, especially in moderate to severe cases.

One study found a year after head trauma, approximately 20% of participants still reported headaches, and they were noted as the most common “physical complaint” after a TBI. Another found patients with TBIs were about 1.5 times more likely to experience migraines than patients without a TBI diagnosis. 

Because they are so often comorbidities, if you are a veteran with headaches who experienced a TBI, you may want to look into whether the two are related, even if you haven’t considered this before.

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Headaches and PTSD

Research suggests there may be a connection between headaches and PTSD. Although the relationship between the two is not fully understood, potential triggers for headaches 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 may be associated with increased headache symptoms. 

If you believe your PTSD is causing headaches, you can talk to your doctor. They may be able to help you establish a medical connection between the two conditions.

TDIU for headaches

In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for severe, chronic headaches. 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 headaches may struggle to work if they are consistently being struck by debilitating pain. They may have to frequently call in or leave early, creating problems with productivity and attendance. If your headaches are also linked to PTSD, TBI, or another related condition, these additional symptoms could further contribute to your inability to work.

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

Our team of VA-accredited attorneys, legal analysts, case managers, and intake specialists help veterans nationwide get the benefits they deserve. If you’re tired of appealing one VA decision after another, call us today for a free case evaluation.

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