Veterans are more likely to experience migraines than people who have not served in the military. Those who served after September 11, 2001, or were exposed to chemicals like Agent Orange are at higher risk. Deployment in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom also increases the likelihood of ongoing migraine attacks. In fact, 36 percent of service members who fit the above criteria are living with migraine, in contrast to 12 percent to 15 percent of the general population. This may happen because service members in those categories were more likely to experience traumatic brain injury, which is connected to migraine.

Fortunately, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers benefits to people who live with migraine because of their time spent in military service. These, along with regular disability benefits, may help you keep your migraine treatment costs down. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is a VA Disability Rating?

If you have a disability or injury that was caused or worsened by your military service, you may qualify for monthly payments from the U.S. government. The amount of money you receive will be based on your disability rating, any family members who live with you, and your income. The amount you get will change each year due to inflation and other factors.

Your VA disability rating is based on how severe your medical condition is. This is determined based on the documentation that you submit and any records that the VA has from your time in the military.

VA Rating for Migraine

People with migraine receive disability ratings of 0 percent, 10 percent, 30 percent, or 50 percent.

People who get a 50 percent disability rating for migraine have frequent migraine attacks that last for a long time. These migraines interfere with their ability to work. The VA uses the term “prostrating migraine” which is a migraine that causes you to feel extremely tired and weak, and makes it difficult to do your regular, daily activities.

People who get a 30 percent disability rating for migraines experience prostrating attacks, which are so severe they leave the person unable to function, at least once a month over several months. A 10 percent disability rating requires prostrating attacks roughly once every two months. People who experience less frequent or less severe migraine attacks will get a 0 percent disability rating and will not qualify for benefits from the government.

There’s no VA rating for migraines with aura or other symptoms of migraine. Instead, you should document how often the attacks occur, how long they last, and how they affect your daily life.

Disability Assistance From the VA

You may choose to receive disability assistance from the VA to help with care for migraines. The main form of assistance the VA offers for disabled veterans is tax-free monthly payments. Some veterans choose this kind of assistance and others don’t.

Any veteran can access health care through the VA, as long as they weren’t dishonorably discharged. There are a few other qualifications you must meet depending on the date of your enlistment and your active-duty status.

Health care through the VA usually includes:

• Primary care appointments
• Specialty care appointments (for example, gynecologists or neurologists)
• Home health care
• Health care for older people
• Help paying for prescriptions
• Emergency medical care
• Hospital care
• Immunizations
• Mental health care

Applying for VA Disability Benefits

When you apply for VA disability assistance, you'll need to prove that you served in the U.S. military, that your type of discharge qualifies you for a VA rating, and that your medical condition is connected to your military service. You will need to submit paperwork or give the military permission to look it up. These are the items they need:

• Your separation paperwork from the military (your DD214 form)
• Medical records from your time in the military
• Any other medical evidence or treatment records you have that document your disability

If you weren’t diagnosed while you were in the military, you’ll need to submit paperwork from your current doctor.

Additional Evidence for Some Applications

You may need or want to submit more evidence for your disability assistance application. For instance, it may be a good idea to keep a journal about your migraine attacks. Sometimes, veterans have a hard time proving that their migraines are bad enough or showing how they interfere with daily life.

Your journal should mention when you have attacks, how long they last, and how they affect your ability to perform daily tasks. This information can help you prove that your attacks are prostrating by showing how they disrupt your life or ability to work.

Types of VA Disability Assistance Claims

There are different types of VA disability claims, and the evidence you need will vary based on the type of claim you file.

• Original claim — This is the first time you have filed. You must show evidence of a medical condition and how it relates to your time in military service.
• Increased claim — This is used when you need to increase the assistance amount because your disability rating has increased. You must show that your medical condition has gotten worse.
• New claim — This is for a new medical condition. If you have a disability rating and develop another condition, you must submit proof and how it’s related to your time in service.
• Secondary service-connected claim — This is when you have a new condition that’s related to a condition you’re already getting benefits for.
• Supplemental claim — This claim is for presenting new or updated evidence that you have a disability if the VA has rejected your claim in the past.

How To File a VA Disability Assistance Claim

There are a few ways you can file your VA disability claim. These include filing:

• Online
• By mail using the Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ)
• In person at a VA office near you
• By faxing your application to 844-531-7818 within the U.S. or 248-524-4260 outside the U.S.
• With professional help from someone like an attorney or claims agent

Get Help With Your VA Disability Claim

If filing a VA disability claim feels overwhelming or if it’s too much for you to do with migraine, you can get help from lawyers, claims agents, or people who work for the Veterans Service Organization. These people are trained to help you fill out your application properly, gather the best evidence for your claim, and submit it the right way. You may also choose to work with one of these people if your first claim gets denied by the VA.

Appealing a VA Disability Assistance Decision

If you disagree with the VA’s decision, you have options. You can request that the decision be reviewed in several different ways. These include:

• Filing a supplemental claim — This claim adds information to the claim so the VA can see all the evidence you have.
• Asking for a higher-level review — Someone at a higher level in the VA needs to look over your existing evidence to make a decision about your claim.
• Asking for a board appeal — The Board of Veterans’ Appeals will have a Veterans Law Judge review your claim.
• Asking for a clinical appeal — Other physicians will need to look at a decision made by VA medical personnel.

If you appeal once and you still don’t get the decision you want and need, you can appeal again with a different method. You can use all different appeals until you’re satisfied with the decision they make.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyMigraineTeam, the social network for people with migraine and their loved ones, more than 83,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with migraine.

Are you working toward getting a VA disability rating for migraine? What has been easy or difficult about the process? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.