Ratings

Migraine: the VA rating and the exam

Diagnostic Code 8100. Four levels: 0, 10, 30 and 50 percent. Here is what each one says, in VA's own words.

The four ratings

VA rates migraine under 38 CFR 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100. The regulation's wording:

Rating	What the regulation says
50%	"With very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability"
30%	"With characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over last several months"
10%	"With characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over last several months"
0%	"With less frequent attacks"

The 0 percent level covers attacks that are less frequent than the 10 percent level.

Diagnostic Code 8100

Very frequent: 50%; once a month: 30%; one in 2 months: 10%; less frequent: 0%.38 CFR 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100 (Cornell LII) · Page reviewed September 2026.

What the key words mean

The regulation does not define these words. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has, and VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals repeats those meanings in its decisions:

Prostrating. In Johnson v. Wilkie, 30 Vet. App. 245 (2018), the Court used the dictionary meaning: "lacking in vitality or will: powerless to rise: laid low."
Completely prostrating. A Board decision quoting the Court says the Veteran "must be rendered entirely powerless."
Very frequent. Johnson v. Wilkie defines it as "a frequency greater than once a month."
Prolonged. Johnson v. Wilkie uses the dictionary meaning: "to lengthen in time: extend duration: draw out: continue, protract." The regulation gives no number of hours or days.
Severe economic inadaptability. In Pierce v. Principi, 18 Vet. App. 440 (2004), the Court said the attacks must be "producing, or being capable of producing, severe economic inadaptability." A Board decision, citing VA's adjudication manual, says this "does not mean the individual is incapable of any substantially gainful employment."

What VA says about the claim exam

VA providers or contract providers do the exam. VA says its contractors follow the same medical training and licensing standards as VA providers.
The exam looks at your disability. It is not a treatment visit, and the provider cannot prescribe medication or make referrals.
VA says you do not need to bring anything to the exam. Send any new medical records ahead of time through VA's online tools or your representative.
Plan to arrive 15 minutes early. If you are late, your provider may cancel your exam. Wear comfortable clothes so you can move freely.
The examiner does not decide service connection. VA claims processors do, and the exam is one part of the whole body of evidence.
Missing the exam delays your claim, and VA may decide it on the evidence already on file. To reschedule, tell the VA medical center or the contractor at least 48 hours in advance. A contractor exam can be rescheduled only once, to a date within 5 days of the original appointment.

What VA says about evidence

Medical evidence: doctors' reports, test results and treatment records for the condition.
Lay evidence: written statements from you or from anyone who knows about your condition. VA accepts them on plain paper, on VA Form 21-10210 (Lay or Witness Statement) or on VA Form 21-4138 (Statement in Support of Claim). VA says it reviews lay evidence along with everything else you send.

Where to call and where to go

Phone (numbers and hours as listed on VA's contact page):

VA benefits hotline: 800-827-1000, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
VA main information line: 800-698-2411, 24/7
Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1
Hearing loss (TTY): 711

Official pages:

Free accredited help: Get help from a VA accredited representative or VSO. VA's page covers finding and appointing an accredited attorney, claims agent or Veterans Service Organization representative.

Sources