Rating Criteria by Level
Under 38 CFR Part 4, DC 8100, the VA rates migraines on a four-level scale based entirely on attack frequency and functional impact. There is no imaging or objective biomarker test. The rating rests on documented attack history.
Criteria: With less frequent attacks.
The 0% rating is non-compensable but still service-connects the condition. It preserves the right to an increase if attack frequency rises and supports secondary claims for conditions caused or worsened by chronic headache disorder.
Criteria: With characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months.
Prostrating attacks are those that force the veteran to stop activity and lie down. At this level, attacks are infrequent but documented as genuinely incapacitating during the episode. Physician confirmation that the attacks are prostrating is critical to avoid a lower or 0% rating.
Criteria: With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months.
Monthly prostrating attacks represent significant functional impairment. At this level, the attacks regularly interfere with work and daily life. Documentation should show that attacks consistently result in the veteran being unable to function for a period and that frequency has been consistent over several months.
Most common compensable level for regular migraine sufferers
Criteria: With very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.
The 50% maximum requires two things: very frequent completely prostrating attacks, and that those attacks produce severe economic inadaptability, meaning they significantly impair the veteran's ability to hold employment. Veterans at this level often have attacks multiple times per month, each lasting hours or days, with significant missed work. Strong documentation of employment impact is required for this rating.
What "Prostrating" Means
The word "prostrating" appears in all three compensable migraine rating criteria, and it is the single most important concept in a migraine VA claim. The VA defines a prostrating attack as one that forces the veteran to cease activity and lie down.
A migraine that causes discomfort but allows the veteran to continue working does not meet the prostrating standard. An attack that forces bed rest, sensory isolation, or complete cessation of activity does. The distinction is functional, not just pain-based.
Document the functional impact explicitly. "I had to leave work, drive home, close all blinds, and lie in bed for six hours" is better documentation than "I had a bad headache." Your treating physician should use the word "prostrating" in their notes when describing your attacks.
How to Service-Connect Migraines
Direct Service Connection
Migraines that began during service and are documented in service treatment records can be directly connected. Even a single sick call entry for "severe headache" during service can support direct connection if combined with a current diagnosis and nexus opinion.
Secondary to TBI
Post-traumatic headache disorder is one of the most common TBI sequelae. Veterans with a service-connected TBI have a strong basis for secondary migraine claims. The nexus is well-established in medical literature and most examiners will confirm it.
Secondary to PTSD or Cervical Spine
PTSD-related stress and hyperarousal are recognized migraine triggers. Cervical spine tension from a service-connected neck condition is also a common secondary basis. A physician nexus opinion is required in either case.
Building Your Claim File
Because migraines have no objective biomarker, documentation quality determines the rating. Before your C&P exam:
- Keep a headache diary for at least 3 months before filing or requesting an increase
- Record date, time, duration, severity (1-10), triggers, and whether you had to stop activity
- Have your treating physician review the diary and document attack frequency and prostrating nature in your medical records
- Obtain prescription records for any migraine-specific medications (triptans, CGRP inhibitors, preventive medications)
- Document any missed work days, emergency room visits, or urgent care visits related to migraines
Secondary Conditions to Migraines
Depression / AnxietyChronic migraine disorder is a documented cause of depression and anxiety. Rated 0-100% on the mental health scale once a secondary nexus is established.
Sleep DisturbanceMigraine attacks disrupt sleep architecture. A sleep study showing migraine-related sleep disorder supports a separate rating.
Cognitive Impairment"Migraine brain" (interictal cognitive effects) is increasingly recognized. May overlap with a TBI secondary claim or be rated independently.
SourcesLast reviewed: May 2026
Migraines VA Rating FAQ
What is the VA rating for migraines?
The VA rates migraines under DC 8100 at 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50%. The 50% maximum requires very frequent completely prostrating attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The 30% level requires prostrating attacks averaging once a month.
What counts as a prostrating migraine attack for VA purposes?
A prostrating attack forces the veteran to stop activity and lie down. It does not require hospitalization, but must be severe enough to incapacitate for a period. Physician documentation describing attacks as prostrating is important for the higher rating levels.
Can migraines be secondary to a TBI or PTSD?
Yes. Migraines are a documented sequela of TBI and are commonly secondary to PTSD, cervical spine conditions, and hypertension. A physician nexus opinion linking migraines to the service-connected condition is required.
How do I document migraine frequency for a VA claim?
Keep a headache diary documenting date, duration, severity, and functional impact of each attack. Note whether each was prostrating. Present the diary to your physician and request they confirm the prostrating nature in your medical records before your C&P exam.
Can I get both a TBI rating and a migraine rating?
Generally no, if migraines are already included within the TBI rating. The VA avoids pyramiding. However, if migraines developed secondary to TBI and are independently rated under DC 8100, that can be appropriate depending on how the TBI was originally evaluated.
Does migraine medication affect my VA rating?
No. The rating is based on attack frequency and severity, not on whether medication controls the condition. If medication reduces attack frequency, that may affect the rating at the next C&P exam, but medication use alone does not lower the rating.