Migraines and chronic headaches are common disabilities affecting many veterans, yet many veterans don’t realize these conditions qualify for VA disability compensation. Veterans develop migraines and headaches from traumatic brain injury, stress-related conditions, environmental exposure during military service, and other service-connected factors. Some veterans experience debilitating migraines that significantly impact the veterans’ ability to work and maintain quality of life. This comprehensive article explains how veterans develop service-connected migraines and headaches, how veterans can file for disability benefits, what disability ratings veterans with migraines receive, and how veterans can maximize compensation for headache disabilities.

How Veterans Develop Service-Connected Migraines

Veterans develop migraines and headaches through various service-related pathways:

Traumatic Brain Injury: Veterans who sustained head trauma, blast injuries, or other TBI during military service frequently develop migraines as a consequence of brain injury. TBI-related migraines in veterans can be severe and chronic, significantly impacting the veteran’s functioning.

Stress and Mental Health Conditions: Veterans with service-connected PTSD, anxiety, or depression often develop tension headaches or migraines. These stress-related headaches in veterans frequently accompany the veteran’s mental health conditions and severely impact the veteran’s quality of life.

Neck and Spine Injuries: Veterans with service-connected neck or spine injuries frequently develop tension headaches or cervicogenic headaches (headaches originating from the veteran’s neck). The veteran’s neck injury causes muscle tension and nerve irritation leading to chronic headaches in the veteran.

Medication Side Effects: Some medications that veterans take for service-connected conditions cause headaches as a side effect. A veteran taking medications for PTSD, hypertension, or other conditions may develop medication-induced headaches affecting the veteran.

Environmental Exposure: Veterans exposed to certain chemicals, burn pit smoke, or other environmental hazards during military service may develop headaches and migraines. Some veterans developed migraines from occupational exposure during the veteran’s service.

Cumulative Service Stress: The cumulative stress of military service contributes to migraine development in some veterans. Veterans who experienced prolonged stress during the veteran’s military career may develop chronic migraines related to service stress.

Service Connection for Veterans with Migraines

Veterans can establish service connection for migraines and headaches through several pathways:

Direct Service Connection: Veterans can establish direct service connection by showing that migraines resulted from a specific incident or condition during military service. For example, a veteran injured in a blast during combat can connect the veteran’s post-blast migraines to the service-related traumatic brain injury.

Secondary Service Connection: This is the most common pathway for veterans with migraines. Veterans with service-connected TBI, PTSD, neck injury, or other conditions often develop migraines secondary to these primary conditions. Veterans file for secondary migraines showing that the veteran’s primary service-connected condition causes or aggravates the veteran’s migraines.

Presumptive Service Connection: While not all migraines are presumptive, some veterans qualify for presumptive migraine benefits. For example, veterans with presumptive TBI may have presumptive secondary migraines. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange may have presumptive conditions that include migraines in some cases.

Types of Headaches and Migraines Affecting Veterans

Veterans experience various headache types qualifying for disability benefits:

Migraines: Classic migraines cause throbbing pain, often on one side of the head, and frequently involve nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Veterans with migraines experience severe pain episodes that can last hours or days, completely disabling the veteran during migraine episodes.

Tension Headaches: Tension headaches from neck injury, muscle tension, or stress affect many veterans. These headaches create a pressure sensation around the veteran’s head and can be chronic, affecting the veteran’s daily functioning.

Cervicogenic Headaches: Veterans with neck injuries develop cervicogenic headaches originating from the veteran’s neck. These headaches in veterans occur from cervical spine problems, muscle tension, or nerve irritation in the veteran’s neck.

Cluster Headaches: Some veterans experience cluster headaches—severe, recurring headaches grouped in time periods. These rare but extremely painful headaches significantly impact the veteran’s functioning during cluster periods.

Medication-Related Headaches: Veterans taking medications for service-connected conditions sometimes develop medication-induced headaches affecting the veteran. Medication adjustment may help these headaches in some veterans.

Disability Ratings for Veterans with Migraines

The VA rates migraines and headaches in veterans based on frequency, severity, and functional impact. Most migraines in veterans receive ratings between 0% and 20%, though some veterans with extremely severe or frequent migraines may receive higher ratings.

0% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have diagnosed migraines or headaches but experience minimal functional impairment. The veteran’s headaches occur occasionally and are well-controlled with medication. Veterans at this level still have the diagnosed condition but it doesn’t substantially limit the veteran’s functioning.

10% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 10% for migraines have regular migraine episodes affecting the veteran’s functioning. The veteran experiences migraines several times monthly that cause temporary incapacity during migraine episodes. The veteran’s headaches impact the veteran’s work performance and daily activities.

20% Rating for Veterans: Veterans with a 20% rating for migraines have frequent, severe migraine episodes substantially affecting the veteran’s functioning. The veteran experiences migraines multiple times per week or has monthly episodes lasting extended periods, significantly impacting the veteran’s ability to work and function.

Filing for Migraine Disability Benefits as a Veteran

To file for VA disability benefits for migraines, veterans submit VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation) indicating migraines or headaches as the claimed condition.

Veterans filing for migraines should include:

• Medical records documenting the veteran’s migraine or headache diagnosis
• Records showing the frequency and severity of the veteran’s migraines
• Documentation of migraine treatments the veteran has received
• A personal statement from the veteran describing the veteran’s migraine episodes and how they affect the veteran’s daily life and work
• If filing for secondary migraines, medical evidence showing how the veteran’s primary service-connected condition causes the veteran’s migraines
• Headache diary or records showing the veteran’s migraine frequency and impact

Veterans should clearly explain whether the veteran is filing for direct service connection (migraines caused by military service) or secondary service connection (migraines caused by another service-connected condition affecting the veteran).

The Compensation and Pension Exam for Veterans with Migraines

When veterans file for migraine disability, the VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam. During the veteran’s exam, the VA examiner will:

• Review the veteran’s medical records and migraine diagnosis history
• Ask the veteran detailed questions about migraine frequency, duration, and severity
• Inquire about the veteran’s migraine symptoms and triggers known to affect the veteran
• Discuss how the veteran’s migraines affect the veteran’s work capacity and daily functioning
• Review medications the veteran takes for migraine management
• Document functional limitations caused by the veteran’s migraines

Veterans should prepare for the veteran’s exam by maintaining a headache diary showing the veteran’s migraine frequency, bringing medical records documenting the veteran’s migraines, and being prepared to describe in detail how the veteran’s migraines impact the veteran’s life.

Secondary Conditions in Veterans with Migraines

Veterans should file claims for conditions secondary to their migraines:

Depression: Many veterans develop depression from the burden of chronic migraines affecting the veteran. This secondary depression in veterans qualifies for separate disability rating.

Anxiety: Veterans with chronic migraines often develop anxiety, particularly anxiety about when the veteran’s next migraine will occur. This secondary anxiety affects the veteran and can be rated separately.

Sleep Disorders: Veterans whose migraines disrupt the veteran’s sleep may develop sleep disorders. These secondary sleep problems in veterans can receive separate ratings.

Medication Side Effects: If the veteran takes medication for migraines causing side effects, these secondary effects affecting the veteran can potentially be rated as separate conditions.

These secondary conditions increase the veteran’s combined disability rating, potentially significantly increasing the veteran’s total compensation.

Combining Migraines with Other Veteran Disabilities

Many veterans have migraines combined with other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran might have a 20% rating for migraines secondary to a 50% TBI rating, plus other service-connected disabilities.

All conditions in veterans combine using the VA’s combined rating formula. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand exactly how your migraine rating combines with your other service-connected conditions as a veteran. The calculator shows veterans the total combined rating and monthly compensation.

Rating Increases for Veterans with Worsening Migraines

Veterans whose migraines become more frequent or severe should file for rating increases. As veterans age, migraines sometimes worsen, and occupational stress changes may trigger more frequent episodes in the veteran.

Veterans should file for rating increases when:

• The veteran’s migraines occur more frequently than previously documented
• The veteran’s migraines become more severe or require stronger medications
• The veteran develops new complications from the veteran’s migraines
• The veteran’s migraines increasingly impact the veteran’s ability to work

When filing for a rating increase, veterans should submit updated medical evidence showing the veteran’s worsened migraine condition and current functional impact affecting the veteran.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to see how a migraine rating increase would affect your combined rating and total compensation as a veteran.

Understanding Your Migraine Disability Compensation

A veteran’s migraine disability compensation depends on the veteran’s migraine rating and whether the veteran has other service-connected conditions. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to determine:

• Your current combined rating including migraines and other disabilities
• Your monthly compensation based on your disability ratings
• How a migraine rating increase would affect your total compensation
• How migraines combine with other service-connected conditions affecting the veteran

The calculator helps veterans understand their total compensation when migraines combine with other disabilities affecting the veteran.

Migraine Management While Receiving VA Benefits

Veterans with service-connected migraines should establish regular care with VA healthcare providers. The VA offers veterans:

• Neurology consultation for migraine diagnosis and management
• Preventive medication management for veterans with frequent migraines
• Acute migraine treatment options for veterans experiencing episodes
• Neuromodulation therapies or other advanced treatments for veterans with severe migraines

Veterans should maintain regular VA care both for medical management and to create medical documentation supporting disability ratings and potential rating increase claims for the veteran.

Evidence Supporting Veteran Migraine Claims

Building a strong migraine disability claim requires comprehensive evidence:

• Medical records from VA or private providers documenting the veteran’s migraine diagnosis
• Frequency data showing how often the veteran experiences migraines
• Descriptions of migraine severity and symptoms experienced by the veteran
• Records of treatments the veteran has tried for migraine management
• A migraine diary maintained by the veteran documenting episodes and impacts
• Statements from employers or family members describing how the veteran’s migraines affect the veteran’s functioning
• Medical provider statements confirming the veteran’s migraines and functional impact on the veteran

The more detailed documentation the veteran provides showing the veteran’s migraine condition and functional limitations affecting the veteran, the stronger the veteran’s disability claim.

Appealing Denied Migraine Claims for Veterans

If the VA denies a veteran’s migraine claim, the veteran can appeal. Many veterans successfully overturn denials by:

• Submitting additional medical evidence documenting the veteran’s migraines
• Maintaining a detailed migraine diary and submitting it with the veteran’s appeal
• Obtaining statements from healthcare providers supporting the veteran’s migraine disability
• Working with a VA-accredited representative who understands how to present migraine evidence effectively
• Filing for secondary migraines if the veteran’s primary service-connected condition was already approved

Don’t accept a denied migraine claim without appealing—many veterans successfully obtain migraine disability benefits through persistent appeals and proper documentation.

Special Occupational Impact of Migraines in Veterans

The VA recognizes that severe migraines significantly impact occupational capacity in veterans. Veterans whose migraines prevent them from working may qualify for Individual Unemployability (IU) even if their migraine rating alone is below 100%.

Veterans with severe migraines affecting occupational capacity should consider IU filing. IU provides 100% disability compensation based on occupational inability rather than rating percentage alone.

Conclusion

Migraines and chronic headaches are service-connected disabilities affecting many veterans, though often unrecognized by veterans unfamiliar with VA benefits. Veterans who developed migraines from military service, combat-related head trauma, or service-connected conditions deserve disability compensation. If you’re a veteran with migraines, file a disability claim documenting your condition and how migraines affect your functioning. File for secondary migraines if your primary service-connected condition causes the veteran’s headaches. Maintain detailed migraine documentation and seek regular VA care. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand your combined rating and total compensation when migraines combine with other veteran disabilities. As a veteran with service-connected migraines, you deserve disability benefits recognizing your condition and compensating you for the functional impact on your veteran life.