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VA Rating for Migraines: How It Works
By the VetClaimsGuide Editorial Team · Educational guide · Updated June 2026
Migraine claims often come down to one word and one habit: the word is "prostrating," and the habit is keeping a headache log. Here is how VA rates migraines and how to document them so your rating reflects reality.
Before you file, appeal, or request an increase: use the free
Claim Readiness Checker to identify possible evidence gaps. It is an educational starting point, not claim filing or representation.
How VA rates migraines
Migraines are rated under Diagnostic Code 8100, based on how often you have prostrating attacks:
- 0 percent: attacks that are less frequent and not prostrating.
- 10 percent: prostrating attacks averaging about once every two months over the last several months.
- 30 percent: prostrating attacks averaging about once a month over the last several months.
- 50 percent: very frequent, prolonged, completely prostrating attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability. This is the maximum schedular rating.
What "prostrating" means
This is the word VA hangs everything on. A prostrating attack is one so severe that you have to stop what you are doing and lie down. A headache you push through is not prostrating in VA's eyes. So your evidence should make clear, in plain terms, that your attacks force you to stop normal activity, and how often that happens.
Your key evidence: a headache log
Because migraines do not show up on a scan, the single most persuasive piece of evidence is a headache log. For each attack, record the date, how long it lasted, how severe it was, and what it forced you to stop doing (leave work, lie down in a dark room, miss an event). A few months of this log, paired with a diagnosis and a nexus, is what moves a migraine rating. Estimate where you might land with the free VA Rating Estimator (migraines are built in).
Migraines as a secondary condition
Migraines are frequently claimed as secondary to other service-connected conditions, such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a neck condition, or PTSD. If a primary condition is driving your headaches, a medical opinion connecting them can open the door. Explore the link with the Secondary Conditions Mapper and bring your doctor an educational Nexus Letter Template.
Get organized: use the free
Evidence Builder to organize records, statements, and questions to discuss with an accredited representative or provider. You can email yourself your results so you can come back later and keep preparing.
Common mistakes and misunderstandings
- Not using the word "prostrating." Describe attacks that force you to stop and lie down, not just "bad headaches."
- No headache log. Without a record of frequency, VA has little to rate.
- Underestimating frequency. Track every attack; gaps in the record can lower the rating.
- Missing the secondary angle when migraines stem from TBI, a neck condition, or PTSD.
Use these tools as an educational starting point before speaking with a VSO, accredited representative, attorney, or medical provider. VetClaimsGuide helps you organize your information, understand possible evidence gaps, and prepare better questions. It does not file claims, represent veterans, or guarantee outcomes.
Organize it in one place: Premium members use the
Secondary Conditions Blueprint to organize possible secondaries, the educational rating impact, and the questions to discuss with a provider or accredited representative, then export a preparation packet. Educational preparation only.
Frequently asked questions
How does VA rate migraines?
Migraines are rated under Diagnostic Code 8100 at 0, 10, 30, or 50 percent, based on how often you have prostrating attacks. 50 percent is the maximum and requires very frequent, prolonged, completely prostrating attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.
What does prostrating mean for VA migraines?
A prostrating attack is one severe enough that you have to stop what you are doing and lie down. It is the key word VA looks for, so your evidence should describe attacks that force you to stop normal activity.
What is the key evidence for a migraine claim?
A headache log recording the date, duration, severity, and what each attack forced you to stop doing. Combined with a diagnosis and a nexus, it is the single most persuasive piece of evidence because migraines are otherwise hard to measure.
Can migraines be claimed as secondary?
Yes. Migraines are often claimed secondary to conditions such as a traumatic brain injury, a neck condition, or PTSD, supported by a medical opinion linking them.
VetClaimsGuide is an independent educational platform and self-help resource. It is not a law firm, not a VSO, not VA-accredited representation, and is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. It does not file or prepare claims for veterans, represent veterans, or provide legal or medical advice, and it does not diagnose conditions or guarantee any rating, payment, or outcome. It helps veterans organize information, understand possible evidence gaps, and prepare questions to discuss with a VSO, accredited representative, attorney, or medical provider. Confirm everything at VA.gov or with an accredited professional.