Migraines: 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50%, and it comes down to "prostrating."

The four levels

• 50%: very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks that cause severe economic inadaptability.
• 30%: prostrating attacks that happen on average once a month over the last several months.
• 10%: prostrating attacks that average one every two months over the last several months.
• 0%: less frequent attacks.

What "prostrating" means

This one word decides most migraine ratings. In plain terms, a prostrating attack is one bad enough that you have to stop what you are doing and lie down, usually in a dark, quiet room, until it passes. A headache you can work through is not the same thing for rating purposes.

"Severe economic inadaptability" at the 50% level does not mean you cannot work at all. It is about the effect the attacks have on your work: missed days, leaving early, lost jobs or hours.

What the evidence has to show

1. A diagnosis. Migraine diagnosed by a doctor.
2. How often the attacks happen. A headache log is the most useful thing you can bring: date, how long it lasted, whether you had to lie down, and whether you missed work.
3. The effect on work. For the higher levels, records of missed or shortened work days.
4. The connection to service. See below.

Connecting it to service

• Direct: headaches that started in service or were treated in service.
• Secondary: a common path. Migraines caused or made worse by another service-connected condition, often a head injury (TBI), a neck condition, PTSD, or medication side effects. Needs a medical opinion that explains the link.

How we help

We check your records for the diagnosis and treatment, help you set up a log that captures what the rating actually looks at, and look at whether a secondary link fits your file.