BVA decisions by condition
Migraines: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a migraines issue in 536 decisions. It granted the migraines issue in 12.1% of them, below the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 11.0%, and remanded it in 71.8%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 52.4% were granted.
Decisions
536
2018–2026
Granted
12.1%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
52.4%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
71.8%
Denied: 11.0%
Migraines outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 50 | 20.0% | 4.0% | 68.0% |
| 2019 | 50 | 8.0% | 10.0% | 78.0% |
| 2023 | 57 | 0.0% | 14.0% | 75.4% |
| 2024 | 90 | 15.6% | 15.6% | 61.1% |
| 2025 | 121 | 15.7% | 11.6% | 71.1% |
| 2026 | 53 | 7.5% | 11.3% | 79.2% |
Evidence in granted and denied migraines decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the migraines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lay statement | 477 | 52.6% | 50.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 179 | 53.2% | 51.9% | +1.2 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 98 | 51.9% | 52.6% | −0.7 pts |
| Combat service | 40 | 50.0% | 52.5% | −2.5 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 124 | 50.0% | 53.1% | −3.1 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 70.8% of the decisions that granted migraines.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 49.2% of grants and 23.7% 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 migraines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable VA exam | 457 | 52.3% | 52.9% | −0.6 pts |
| Negative nexus opinion | 267 | 42.6% | 58.4% | −15.9 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied migraines
Most common reasons in grants
- Migraines rated under DC 81005
- Criteria for 50% rating met: very frequent, completely prostrating, prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability2
- 30 percent criteria met for characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month1
- 50% rating requires very frequent, completely prostrating, prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability1
- Ameliorative effects of medication not considered per jones v. shinseki1
- Attacks are completely prostrating as they require the veteran to lie down1
- Attacks are prolonged, lasting 2-4 days, occurring multiple times per month1
- Attacks are prostrating, occur at least monthly1
Most common reasons in denials
- Already at the maximum schedular rating2
- August 2020 VA exam described constant pain, light sensitivity, irritability, inability to focus, but not completely prostrating or prolonged attacks1
- Board accorded greater probative weight to the VA examination due to its in-person nature and comprehensive findings1
- Board found VA examinations more persuasive and evidence did not support rating higher than 30 percent1
- Condition does not result in severe economic inadaptability1
- Evidence did not demonstrate very frequent completely prostrating attacks after oct 2, 20141
- Evidence did not establish completely prostrating attacks1
- Evidence did not show attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability1
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 migraines decisions
Granted
Veteran reported prostrating attacks occurring up to four times per week.; Migraine attacks met criteria for 30% rating under DC 8100.; Reasonable doubt resolved in veteran's favor.
Evidence of record demonstrates very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks.; Attacks were productive of severe economic inadaptability.; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor.
Migraines rated under DC 8100; Criteria for 50% rating met: very frequent, completely prostrating, prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability; Lay evidence found credible and afforded significant probative value
Denied
Migraines rated under DC 8100.; Attacks did not meet criteria for 10% rating (less frequent attacks).; Memory complaints already compensated under separate service-connected disorder (other specified trauma and stressor related disorder).
Service treatment records show no headache complaints or diagnosis.; VA records show infrequent headaches, negative reviews of systems.; August 2020 VA exam described constant pain, light sensitivity, irritability, inability to focus, but not completely prostrating or prolonged attacks.; Lay evidence was nonspecific and afforded limited probative weight.; VA examination afforded significant probative weight.
Evidence persuasively weighs against awarding rating higher than 30 percent.; Inconsistent statements regarding frequency and severity of headaches.; Lack of evidence for severe economic inadaptability.
Rules that apply to migraines claims
- 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 migraines 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 migraines 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. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.