Migraine Headaches C&P Exam Guide
Associated DBQ Form: DBQ Headaches (including Migraine)
What to Expect During Your Exam
The migraine C&P exam typically lasts 20-30 minutes. The examiner will focus on the frequency and severity of your headaches and their impact on your ability to function.
The exam includes:
1. Review of your headache history
2. Discussion of frequency, duration, and severity
3. Assessment of prostrating attacks
4. Evaluation of impact on work and daily activities
5. Review of treatments and their effectiveness
Questions the Examiner May Ask
- 1 How often do you get migraines?
- 2 How long do they typically last?
- 3 What symptoms accompany your migraines (aura, nausea, light sensitivity)?
- 4 What triggers your migraines?
- 5 Do your migraines force you to lie down in a dark room?
- 6 How many days per month do you miss work due to migraines?
- 7 What medications do you take for migraines?
- 8 How effective are your treatments?
- 9 When did you first start getting migraines?
Documentation to Bring
- Service treatment records showing headache treatment
- Current treatment records documenting frequency
- Headache diary or log (highly recommended)
- List of medications tried and their effectiveness
- Documentation of missed work due to migraines
- Buddy statements about observed migraine episodes
How to Prepare
Before your exam:
1. **Keep a headache diary** - Track dates, duration, severity, and what you had to do (lie down, leave work)
2. **Document prostrating attacks** - These are migraines severe enough to force you to stop what you're doing
3. **Calculate monthly frequency** - How many migraines per month? How many prostrating?
4. **Track economic impact** - Days of work missed, reduced productivity
5. **List all treatments** - Medications, injections, lifestyle changes and their effectiveness
Helpful Tips
- A headache diary is extremely valuable evidence
- 'Prostrating' means the headache is severe enough that you must stop activities and rest
- Be specific about frequency - 'a few times a month' is vague
- Mention ALL symptoms: aura, nausea, vomiting, light/sound sensitivity
- Document how migraines affect your work productivity
- If migraines cause you to miss work, quantify how many days per month
- Mention if migraines have worsened over time
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Vague descriptions of frequency ('sometimes' vs. '4-6 times per month')
- No treatment records despite claiming severe migraines
- Claiming daily migraines with no documentation
- Inconsistency between claimed severity and ability to function
How VA Rates This Condition
Migraines are rated under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100:
**0%** - Less frequent attacks
**10%** - Characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in 2 months over the last several months
**30%** - Characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once a month over the last several months
**50%** - Very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability
**Key terms:**
- 'Prostrating' = severe enough to force you to stop activities
- 'Severe economic inadaptability' = significant impact on ability to work