Hey Veterans! Brian Reese here, Your VA Claims Insider. Are you having some Migraine Headache issues? Let’s walk through together how you can file for VA migraine headache Claims!
What is a Migraine headache claim?
Let’s start by exampling what a Migraine Headache is and if you experience them! Migraine Headaches are intense and severe; often having other symptoms in addition to head pain.
Some symptoms include nausea, pain behind one eye or ear pain in the temples, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light and/ or sound, temporary vision loss, and vomiting.
You may have some but not all-of-these symptoms and still could be experiencing Migraine Headaches. When comparing the tension type of other headaches, a migraine headache pain can be moderate to severe. I mentioned above a symptom you could experience is pain behind one eye or ear, this is due to the fact most headaches affect only one side of your head but could, in some cases, affect both. Migraine Headaches may make performing daily tasks more difficult.
How do I claim it?
Now to tell if you’re eligible by law, you need to know if it is one of these three:
- You could have a medical diagnosis of your migraine headache with medical evidence supporting your migraine headaches. If you don’t have one, see a physician.
- Next, your headaches were either caused or worsened while on your active duty military service.
- Lastly, there has to be a link or the instance or multiple instances caused to have your symptoms of Migraine Headaches you are experiencing today. In other words, do you have proof this happened while on active duty?
According to, The eCFR, Title 38, Schedule 4 the schedule for rating criteria, 8100 Migraine this is the law for rating criteria of a migraine. This might sound intimidating, but I’m here to break down the rating schedule for you!
Starting with 50%, it’s a migraine with persistent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. In other words, you’re experiencing migraines with long, overwhelming attacks that you can’t go to work or even lost your job because you couldn’t show up!
When we refer to prostrating this means, your migraines are so severe you have to lay down or go to a dark room to have them stop. If you’re experiencing this severity of migraines, you need to see a medical physician.
Next is 30%, with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months. So your symptoms are a tad bit lighter and don’t happen quite as often.
Lastly is 10% with characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months, where again, less frequent. You can tell the rating is based on the time period, and the percentage decreases until you hit 0% or less frequent attacks.
What do I need?
If you are experiencing these Migraine Headaches and you want to file your VA claim, here are your evidence requirements to do so.
You need a diagnosis of Migraines from a medical professional, an in-service stressor for service-connection, a DBQ, or a disability benefits questionnaire. If you are out of service for more than a year, you might need a medical Nexus letter, which proves one of the three options we discussed earlier. The last thing that is required is a Statement in Support for a Claim for Migraines (VA form 2141). Buddy letters are also recommended for proof! This is a letter from someone who first hand saw your incident or is helping with them back at home. An app I suggest is Migraine Buddy to help keep track of your symptoms and migraines in a long form, which is a requirement.
Migraines as a secondary condition
Migraines are also a secondary condition. This means it can be caused or made worse by a Veteran’s current service injury. Migraines have been linked to PTSD, Depression & Anxiety, TBI, Fibromyalgia, Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, Heart Disease, and even High Blood Pressure.
What you should do right now if you want to File your VA claim for Migraines
Go see a doctor and receive a diagnosis for migraines, while you’re there obtain a DBQ and Nexus letter. Your doctor can fill this out for you.
From here you will get a compensation and pension exam, here are some helpful tips to help you have a smooth exam. Know what’s on your medical record, there’s no such thing as too much information- be uncomfortably vulnerable! Know your diagnoses, symptoms, even how often you get migraines and what triggers them.
Review your DBQ and your eCFR, Title 38, Schedule 4 for migraines. Try not to have your best day, show the person giving your exam how you act and feel during migraines. They know you’re in pain, so show them! Lastly, know your true story cold. This is happening to you and affecting your everyday life tell them every detail.
If you need help we have a full medical staff ready and available to assist you with the medical evidence you need to service-connect your Migraines claim- That’s what we do at VA Claims! We even have a FREE 3-step intake form.
Have additional questions? I go live every Wednesday morning on my Facebook page to answer any questions you might have! Leave me a comment and let me know that you will be there this week!
As always this is Brian Reese and at VA claims we thank you for your service and God Bless you and your Family!
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is one of the top VA disability benefits experts in the world and bestselling author of You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You’ve Earned (Second Edition).
Brian’s frustration with the VA claim process led him to create VA Claims Insider, which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim, faster, even if they’ve already filed, been denied, gave up, or don’t know where to start.
As the founder of VA Claims Insider and CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, he has helped serve more than 10 million military members and veterans since 2013 through free online educational resources.
He is a former active duty Air Force officer with extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class).
