Many veterans suffer from chronic migraines as a result of in-service injuries or exposures. If you are suffering from migraines related to your military service, it is important to know what VA disability benefits are available for you.
What are migraines?
Migraines are a type of headache, but can include symptoms beyond just head pain, such as light sensitivity, vomiting, and nausea. Migraine symptoms can be episodic and triggered by anything from stress to certain foods.
Are your migraines related to service?
In order to establish that you are entitled to VA disability compensation for your migraines, you will need to prove three things:
- Either your migraines or migraine symptoms began or were aggravated during service, or you were otherwise injured or exposed to a triggering event in service; and
- You currently suffer from migraines; and
- There is a connection between the injury/illness/event in service and your current migraines.
How to file a claim for migraines?
If your migraines are related to service, or to another service-connected condition, you can file a claim for VA disability benefits in one of the following ways:
- File online: here.
- File by mail.
- Complete the VA applicationfor disability benefits and mail it to this address:
- Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
PO Box 4444
Janesville, WI 53547-4444
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- File in person at your local VA Regional Office.
- File by fax:
- If you’re in the U.S., fax your application to 844-531-7818.
- If you’re outside the U.S., fax your application to 248-524-4260.
- File with the help of a trained professional, such as an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative.
- Complete the VA applicationfor disability benefits and mail it to this address:
When filing a claim, be sure to detail the nature, frequency, and impact of your migraines, including how your migraines impact your daily life and ability to work, and whether there are any secondary conditions related to your migraines.
How does the VA rate migraines?
The VA uses Diagnostic Code 8100 to rate migraines. This Diagnostic Code focuses on the frequency of attacks, degree to which the symptoms are prostrating, and work impairment.
Specifically, DC 8100 provides the following ratings for the corresponding symptoms:
| Symptoms | Rating |
|---|---|
| With very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability | 50 |
| With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over last several months | 30 |
| With characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over last several months | 10 |
| With less frequent attacks | 0 |
This Diagnostic Code is very vague and can easily cause confusion and inconsistent results, so it is important to know the following:
- For the 0% rating, the term “less frequent”means the characteristic prostrating attacks, on average, are more than two months apart over the last several months.
- The phrase “characteristic prostrating attack” means “attacks that typically produce extreme exhaustion, powerlessness, debilitation or incapacitation with substantial inability to engage in ordinary activities.”
- For a 50% rating, the term “very frequent”means the characteristic prostrating attacks, on average, are less than one month apart over the last several months.
- For a 50% rating, the phrase “completely prostrating” means extreme exhaustion or powerlessness with essentially total inability to engage in ordinary activities.
- For a 50% rating, the phrase, “productive of severe economic inadaptability” can either mean “producing” or “capable of producing,” meaning migraines do not actually have to “produce” severe economic inadaptability to warrant the 50% rating.
- Also, for a 50% rating, the phrase “severeeconomic inadaptability” means substantial work impairment. It does not mean total unemployability, as that requirement would render TDIU benefits obsolete.
Migraines are unique from other VA disability claims because the VA considers more than just headache symptoms to be part of the migraine analysis. In other words, the VA will consider all of the symptoms you experience as a result of migraine attacks and evaluate those symptoms using DC 8100.
For example, one veteran suffers from service-connected migraine headaches that occur twice weekly and are prostrating in nature. Symptoms manifested during the migraine headache attacks include frontal headaches, photophobia, nausea, and dizziness. In evaluating the disability under DC 8100, the VA must consider all symptoms associated with the migraine headache attacks, and not just the headaches themselves.
Therefore, when you submit evidence detailing the severity of your migraines, be sure to include evidence of any other symptoms related to the migraines.
Keep a headache journal
The VA will accept headache journals as credible evidence showing headache frequency, prostration, and occupational impairment. Therefore, it’s helpful to keep a headache journal detailing your symptoms and their impact on your ability to work over time.
How to maximize your migraine benefits?
If your migraines are so severe they prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, then you may apply for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
Additionally, the Diagnostic Code for migraines does not mention medication; therefore, the VA should evaluate the severity of your migraines without medication. This analysis might require a medical opinion to opine on how severe your migraines would be without medication.
What about TBIs?
The VA rates Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs, differently than migraines. You can learn more about TBI benefits and ratings here: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | Veterans Benefit Claims.
Contact us to appeal now!
Has the VA denied your claim for service-connected migraines or provided you with an improper rating or effective date? We are here to help you appeal! Contact us to reach our advocates today, or call 1 (877) 777-4021 to take the next step in obtaining the VA disability benefits you deserve.
