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Migraines are rated on how often prostrating attacks occur and their effect on work. Lay evidence and a headache log can be persuasive; nexus to service is the common dispute.
VA rating schedule, diagnostic code 8100
Migraines and chronic headaches are treated by the VA as a neurological condition. To get "service connection," the basic rule is that the evidence must show the disease or injury that causes your disability started during your military service, or got worse because of it. This can be shown directly, or through special presumptive rules. Many veterans also link headaches to another service-connected problem (like a head injury), which is called secondary service connection.
The VA rates migraines under diagnostic code 8100 in its rating schedule. The percentage depends on how often you get "prostrating" attacks (attacks so bad you have to stop what you're doing and lie down) and how much they affect your ability to work. The 50% level is for very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic problems. The 30% level is for prostrating attacks that happen on average once a month over the last several months, and 10% is for prostrating attacks averaging about one every two months. Less frequent attacks are rated at 0%.
There is also an exposure pathway for some Gulf War veterans. Under the VA's rules for Persian Gulf veterans, headache is specifically listed as a sign or symptom that can be part of an "undiagnosed illness" or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. For this pathway, the disability generally must appear during qualifying service in the Southwest Asia theater, or reach at least a 10% level by December 31, 2026, and cannot be tied to a known diagnosis. This route can ease the usual burden of proving a direct link to service.
A denial is a starting point, not the end, and your evidence and headache history matter to how the VA applies these rules. This is educational information only — it is not legal advice or a VA decision.
Grounded in federal regulations and VA guidance, independently reviewed June 2026. Educational information, not legal advice or a VA determination.
Across 54,397 real Board appeals for Migraines & headaches
A denial is often not the end either — remands (shown below) are sent back for more development and can still end in a grant. These are historical outcomes, not a prediction of your case.
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Among the appeals that were granted or partly granted, the most common ways Migraines & headaches was linked to service:
In appeals where Migraines & headaches was the only condition decided and the Board granted it, the rating most often assigned was:
These appeals involved a recognized exposure — which can mean the link to service is presumed, with no nexus to prove:
The Veteran's migraines and fibromyalgia are presumed to have been caused by exposure to fine, particulate matter in Southwest Asia. The bilateral knee condition is at least as likely as not related to service. The low back disability is also at least as likely as not related to service. The bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is at least as likely as not related to the service-connected low back disability. The acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety) is at least as likely as not related to service.,The Veteran's traumatic brain injury and cervical spine disabilities are remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.
The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches due to right eye removal are granted. The claim for a compensable evaluation of xeroderma of the right eye is remanded.
The Veteran's migraine headaches are productive of very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks capable of producing severe economic inadaptability. The Board has granted a 50 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches.
The Veteran's right ankle sprain, lumbar strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, headaches (tension), and erectile dysfunction are all granted as service connection. The Veteran's asthma is also granted as service connection. However, the Veteran's muscle pain/spasms do not meet VA compensation criteria.,Service connection for these conditions is based on their onset during or shortly after service.
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches was granted with an effective date of February 28, 2023.
The Veteran's vascular headaches are granted effective August 22, 2011. A TDIU is granted effective February 11, 2015. SMC based on housebound criteria is denied prior to July 14, 2020.
Jump to the decisions from a specific year.
New decisions are added every week, and older years are actively being backfilled — a year that looks thin or missing here (especially 2011–2017) is a gap in our library, not in the Board’s decisions.
Veterans appealing Migraines & headaches often look at outcomes for these too:
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.