Did you know it might be possible to secure a 100% VA disability rating for migraines?
Yes, it’s possible, but not directly through the VA’s standard scheduler rating system for headaches.
While the VA won’t assign a 100% scheduler VA rating just for migraines, there is a way to reach 100% VA disability compensation via an extra-schedular rating through Individual Unemployability (IU) if your migraines are severe enough to prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
Let me break it down for you in-detail.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- 100 Percent VA Disability Rating for Migraines: While migraines can’t get a 100% rating on the schedular scale, veterans can qualify for 100% compensation through Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) if their migraines prevent them from maintaining gainful employment.
- Highest Schedular Rating for Migraines: The maximum schedular VA rating for migraines is 50%, awarded for frequent, completely prostrating attacks that severely impair work ability.
- Proving VA TDIU Eligibility: To qualify for TDIU, veterans must show their migraines make it impossible to hold down substantially gainful employment. There are additional steps you must complete on your VA disability application to apply for TDIU.
- Migraines and Secondary Service Connection: Migraines can also be rated as secondary to other conditions, such as TBI, PTSD, or tinnitus, with appropriate medical evidence. You’ll want to get a nexus letter for a secondary condition.
VA Rating Criteria for Migraine Headaches
The VA rates migraines under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100.
Your final migraines VA disability rating is determined by the frequency, severity, and duration of your migraine attacks to include functional impairment as well as negative impacts to your work, life, and social functioning.
Here’s the schedular rating criteria for headaches from 0% to 50%:
- 0% VA Rating for Migraines: You have migraines, but they’re less frequent, and they don’t significantly affect your daily life or work.
- 10% VA Rating for Migraines: You have prostrating (debilitating) migraines once every two months on average. These require rest but don’t have a huge long-term impact on your ability to function.
- 30% VA Rating for Migraines: You have prostrating attacks once per month on average. These migraines will likely interfere with your daily activities and your ability to work.
- 50% VA Rating for Migraines: This is the highest schedular rating for migraines. If you’re having very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged migraine attacks that significantly impair your ability to work, you may qualify for this rating. For example, if you’re missing work frequently or can’t focus on tasks, you’re looking at a 50% rating.
What is the Highest VA Rating for Migraines?
The highest VA rating for migraines is 50%.
This rating is given if your migraines are frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged to the point where they severely affect your ability to work.
However, if your migraines are so debilitating that you can’t hold a job, you may be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which could give you 100% compensation even though the schedular rating maxes out at 50%.
Can I Get a 100% VA Rating for Migraines?
Not directly, but it’s possible to get a 100 percent TDIU VA rating for migraines.
While the highest schedular rating for migraines is 50%, you can still get 100% compensation through Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
If your migraines are so severe that they prevent you from maintaining a job, TDIU can grant you 100% compensation, even if your migraines alone don’t qualify for that rating.
What is TDIU for VA Disability?
Total Disability Individual Umemployability (TDIU), as described in 38 CFR § 4.16, can be a game-changer.
It allows veterans to be compensated at the 100% rate even if their combined disability rating is less than 100%.
To qualify for TDIU, you need to prove that your migraines (or a combination of service-connected conditions) render you unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation because of one or more service-connected disabilities.
For example, if you’re dealing with frequent, severe migraines that make it impossible for you to perform basic job functions, you may be eligible for TDIU.
This pathway can get you the 100% compensation you deserve, without needing to meet the scheduler rating criteria for migraines.
Can I File a VA Claim for Migraines Secondary?
Yes, veterans can file a VA claim for migraines as a secondary condition if their migraines are proximately due to or aggravated by another service-connected disability.
For example, a veteran with tinnitus might develop migraines due to the stress or discomfort caused by the constant ringing in the ears.
To successfully claim migraines as secondary, you’ll need strong medical evidence, including a nexus letter from a private healthcare provider, clearly connecting your primary service-connected condition to your migraine headaches.
Here’s the 6 most common conditions that can cause migraines as a secondary condition:
- Migraines Secondary to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Veterans with a history of TBI often experience migraines due to head trauma sustained during service.
- Migraines Secondary to PTSD: PTSD can trigger stress-induced migraines, where anxiety and emotional distress play a major role.
- Migraines Secondary to Anxiety and Depression: Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety often trigger migraines, either due to emotional stress or medication side effects.
- Migraines Secondary to Cervical Strain: Neck injuries or strains can lead to chronic headaches or migraines, especially if there are musculoskeletal issues involved.
- Migraines Secondary to Tinnitus: The constant ringing or buzzing in the ears caused by tinnitus can exacerbate or trigger migraines due to the stress and sensory overload it creates.
- Migraines Secondary to Sinusitis: Chronic sinus infections and sinusitis can result in migraine-like headaches, primarily due to pressure and inflammation in the sinus cavities.
Pro Tips and Strategies for Winning Your VA Claim for Migraines
Here’s a list of pro tips and strategies to help you win your VA claim for migraines:
- Document Everything: This is huge. Your medical records need to show the frequency, severity, and duration of your migraines. Keep a migraine diary with apps like Migraine Buddy to track your symptoms, how often they occur, how long they last, and how they affect your life. The VA loves hard data, and this is a great way to give them what they’re looking for.
- Prostrating Attacks: When describing prostrating migraines for VA disability, it’s essential to be as detailed and specific as possible. Make sure you emphasize how debilitating the migraines are by explaining how they force you to lie down in a dark, quiet room for hours, prevent you from completing daily tasks, and cause extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Describe how they completely disrupt your ability to function, even for basic activities, and how they affect your work, social life, and overall quality of life.
- Clearly Describe the Impact on Your Work: If your migraines make it impossible to hold down a job or severely limit your ability to work, this needs to be well-documented. Consider getting buddy statements from family, friends, or coworkers who can testify to how your migraines impact your daily life and work performance.
- Consider TDIU: If your migraines are making work impossible, TDIU could be the key to receiving 100% VA disability compensation. Make sure you apply for TDIU if your migraines prevent you from maintaining gainful employment. You’ll need to complete some extra steps on VA.gov to file a claim for individual unemployability.
- Get a Strong Nexus Letter: If your migraines are tied to your military service, or they’re secondary to another service-connected condition, you’ll want a nexus letter from a medical professional to help link your migraines to your service. This can literally make or break your claim.
Conclusion & Wrap-Up
While you can’t directly get a 100% VA rating for migraines, you can still achieve 100% disability compensation pay through VA TDIU if your migraines are severe enough to prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
If you’re dealing with frequent, debilitating migraine headaches that interfere with your daily life and work, it’s critical to document everything in your medical records and pursue all the options available to you.
100 Percent VA Disability for Migraine Headaches: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I get a 100% VA disability rating for migraines?
While you can’t get a 100% schedular VA rating for migraines alone, you may be able to achieve 100% compensation through Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
2. What is the highest VA rating for migraines?
The highest schedular rating for migraines is 50%, which is assigned if you experience very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks that significantly impact your ability to work. This means you have migraines so severe that they often prevent you from functioning or working effectively.
3. How can I qualify for TDIU due to migraines?
To qualify for TDIU, you must prove that your migraines are severe enough to prevent you from holding down a substantially gainful occupation. Generally, if you can’t perform basic job functions due to frequent and debilitating migraines, you may qualify. You’ll need to file VA Form 21-8940 and provide medical evidence demonstrating the impact of your migraines on your work.
4. Can I file for migraines as a secondary condition to another disability?
Yes, you can file for migraines as a secondary condition if they are caused or aggravated by another service-connected condition. Common conditions linked to secondary migraines include TBI, PTSD, tinnitus, and cervical strain. A nexus letter from a medical provider is essential to link the secondary condition to your migraines.
5. What medical evidence do I need to support my migraine claim?
To support your claim, you’ll need to provide detailed medical records that document the frequency, duration, and severity of your migraine attacks. Keeping a migraine diary or using a tracking app like Migraine Buddy can help provide the VA with specific data. Additionally, a nexus letter from your doctor that links your migraines to service, or another condition can strengthen your case.
6. Can I receive compensation if my migraines are less severe?
Yes, the VA offers ratings at 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% for migraines depending on their frequency and severity. Even if your migraines don’t meet the highest rating, you can still receive compensation based on the impact they have on your daily life and ability to work. A 0% rating recognizes service connection but provides no compensation unless your condition worsens.
7. What are the most common conditions that cause secondary migraines?
The most common conditions that cause secondary migraines are:
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Cervical Strain
- Tinnitus
- Sinusitis These conditions can trigger or aggravate migraines, and veterans can file for secondary service connection for these conditions.
8. What is the difference between schedular ratings and extra-schedular ratings for migraines?
Schedular ratings follow a specific criteria laid out in 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100, which caps the rating at 50%. An extra-schedular rating may apply if your migraines present an exceptional or unusual disability picture that is not adequately covered by the standard rating criteria. This could involve significant job loss or hospitalization.
9. How does TDIU work for veterans with migraines?
TDIU allows veterans to receive 100% disability compensation even if their combined rating is less than 100%. To qualify, you need to show that your migraines (or a combination of conditions) prevent you from working in a substantially gainful occupation. The VA considers your medical records, employment history, and the severity of your migraines.
10. What happens if the VA denies my claim for a higher migraine rating or TDIU?
If the VA denies your claim, you can file an appeal. You may request a Higher-Level Review or submit new evidence to support your claim through a Supplemental Claim. Additionally, you can appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) for a full review. Providing more detailed medical evidence or obtaining a stronger nexus letter can help improve your chances on appeal.
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
