BVA decisions by condition
Migraine: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a migraine issue in 37,003 decisions. It granted the migraine issue in 31.3% of them, above the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 24.7%, and remanded it in 43.0%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 55.8% were granted.
Decisions
37,003
2018–2026
Granted
31.3%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
55.8%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
43.0%
Denied: 24.7%
Migraine outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3,460 | 25.0% | 27.5% | 44.1% |
| 2019 | 4,284 | 26.8% | 25.7% | 46.5% |
| 2020 | 3,856 | 28.0% | 28.2% | 43.6% |
| 2021 | 3,663 | 29.4% | 26.0% | 44.3% |
| 2022 | 3,548 | 30.1% | 21.4% | 47.8% |
| 2023 | 4,331 | 30.9% | 21.4% | 46.7% |
| 2024 | 5,259 | 34.5% | 23.1% | 41.6% |
| 2025 | 6,287 | 36.0% | 25.8% | 37.2% |
| 2026 | 2,315 | 39.3% | 22.9% | 36.1% |
Evidence in granted and denied migraine decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the migraine issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 6,710 | 80.3% | 48.0% | +32.3 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 8,601 | 74.9% | 51.7% | +23.2 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 5,935 | 73.5% | 50.5% | +23.0 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 1,874 | 71.7% | 54.8% | +16.9 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 11,388 | 66.3% | 50.0% | +16.2 pts |
| Buddy statement | 1,290 | 68.2% | 55.3% | +12.9 pts |
| Combat service | 2,078 | 63.1% | 55.4% | +7.8 pts |
| Lay statement | 30,839 | 55.9% | 55.2% | +0.7 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 72.8% of the decisions that granted migraine.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 45.4% of grants and 13.9% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often migraine was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 17,606 | 54.1% | 57.3% | −3.2 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 28,717 | 54.9% | 61.0% | −6.1 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied migraine
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established902
- Continuity of symptomatology since service323
- Migraines rated under dc 8100158
- Criteria for service connection met148
- Resolved doubt in veteran's favor144
- Severe economic inadaptability139
- Already at the maximum schedular rating126
- Migraine headaches rated under dc 8100122
Most common reasons in denials
- Va examiner: less likely than not related to service660
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim517
- No current diagnosis511
- Service records negative or silent480
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis478
- Already at the maximum schedular rating457
- Current diagnosis established249
- No evidence of severe economic inadaptability118
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent migraine decisions
Granted
Persian Gulf Veteran status verified by DoD data.; Migraines diagnosed in Oct 2020 VA exam.; Migraines considered qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.
Reduction improper due to inadequate VA examinations; Examinations did not reconcile findings with Veteran's reports of frequent incapacitating headaches and missed work; Veteran's testimony and submitted evidence (employer letter, headache log) supported continued 50% rating
Veteran's testimony and lay statements support frequent, prostrating attacks.; Attacks are prolonged and capable of producing severe economic inadaptability.; December 2020 VA exam was inadequate for downplaying frequency and economic impact.
Denied
Denied as secondary to denied bruxism; No current bruxism established
Headaches not prostrating or prolonged.; Did not cause severe economic inadaptability.; Did not impact occupational tasks.
Veteran already at maximum rating for migraines (50%); Evidence did not support higher rating
Rules that apply to migraine claims
- 38 CFR 4.124a · DC 8100
Schedule of ratings: neurological conditions
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.12.A.3
Migraine: rating criteria, lay evidence of prostration, headache journals
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 IV.i.3.B.1.b
Reviewing a headache examination report
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your migraine case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a migraine issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2018–2026) and can contain errors. Updated automatically as new decisions are added.
- Research aid, not legal advice. Verify each decision and regulation before relying on it.