VA rates migraines under Diagnostic Code 8100 from 0% to 50%, and one word decides the whole thing: "prostrating." The rating is driven by how often you have prostrating attacks — severe enough that you have to stop and lie down — not by how many headaches you have total.
Straight talk first
Migraine claims get undervalued because veterans report "I get headaches a lot" instead of documenting prostrating attacks — the ones that put you down. VA rates the frequency of those. The other thing people miss: the 50% top rating turns on "severe economic inadaptability," which is about work impact. So the claim isn't "I have migraines" — it's "here's how often they completely stop me, and here's what that does to my ability to work." A headache log is the single best piece of evidence you can build.
This is the migraine-rating cut of how VA rates conditions.
How the rating works (DC 8100)
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 50% | Very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability |
| 30% | Characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once a month over the last several months |
| 10% | Characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one every two months over the last several months |
| 0% | Less frequent attacks |
"Prostrating" is the whole game
VA doesn't give a rigid definition, but a prostrating attack is generally one so severe you must stop and lie down until it passes. Ordinary headaches don't count toward the rating — prostrating ones do. Document the frequency (a dated headache log), the severity, and what you had to stop doing. For 50%, tie it to work impact.
Direct or secondary?
- Secondary — very common: migraines secondary to a TBI, to neck/cervical problems, or to medication, under 38 CFR 3.310.
- Direct — onset or link to service.
You'll need a current diagnosis, the service link or primary, and a nexus. See how to file your own claim, then check the combined effect in the VA Combined Rating Calculator.
Key takeaways
- Migraines (DC 8100) are rated 0/10/30/50 by the frequency of prostrating attacks; 50% is the max.
- "Prostrating" (attacks that stop you and put you down) is what counts — ordinary headaches don't.
- The 50% level turns on work impact ("severe economic inadaptability").
- A headache log is your best evidence; migraines are often a strong secondary to TBI.
Frequently asked questions
- How does VA rate migraines?
- Migraines are rated under Diagnostic Code 8100 by how often you have 'prostrating' attacks: 0% for less frequent attacks, 10% for characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one every two months, 30% for prostrating attacks averaging once a month, and 50% for very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks producing severe economic inadaptability.
- What does 'prostrating' mean for a migraine rating?
- VA doesn't rigidly define it, but 'prostrating' generally means an attack so severe you have to stop what you're doing and lie down or rest until it passes. The frequency of these prostrating attacks — not ordinary headaches — drives the rating, so documenting them matters.
- What's the highest migraine rating?
- 50% is the maximum under DC 8100, reserved for very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability — meaning the migraines seriously interfere with your ability to work. There is no 100% migraine rating under this code.
- Can migraines be a secondary condition?
- Yes. Migraines are commonly claimed as secondary to a service-connected condition — for example, secondary to a TBI, to neck/cervical problems, or to medications — under 38 CFR 3.310. They can also be a direct claim if they began in or are linked to service.
Sources
- 38 CFR 4.124a — neurological conditions (DC 8100, migraine): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.124a
- 38 CFR 3.310 — secondary service connection: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/subpart-A/section-3.310
- VA — How VA decides service connection: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/
- 38 CFR 4.25 — combined ratings table: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-4/subpart-A/section-4.25
