Tension-type headaches are the most common headache disorder in the world, and veterans are no exception. For many former service members, recurring head pain, pressure, and concentration problems are not just minor inconveniences they interfere with work, sleep, and daily functioning. These headaches are often tied to military-related conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and chronic stress exposure.
Under VA law, tension headaches can qualify for monthly disability compensation if they are linked to military service and severe enough to disrupt a veteran’s life. While tension headaches do not have their own diagnostic code, VA still evaluates and compensates them using established neurological criteria.
This guide explains how VA disability claims for tension headaches work, including eligibility, ratings, compensation amounts, exams, appeals, and expert guidance veterans should know in 2025.
Overview of VA Disability Claims for Tension Headaches
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition Name | Tension-Type Headaches (TTH) |
| VA Diagnostic Code | Rated by analogy under DC 8100 |
| Possible Ratings | 0%, 10%, 30%, 50% |
| Service Connection | Direct or secondary |
| Monthly Compensation | Up to $1,102.04 (2025 rates) |
| Appeal Options | Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review, Board Appeal |
| TDIU Eligibility | Yes, in severe cases |
What Are Tension Headaches?
Tension headaches are characterized by constant, dull pain and pressure, usually felt on both sides of the head. Veterans often describe them as a sensation similar to wearing a tight band wrapped around the skull.
Common symptoms include:
- Persistent aching or tightening pain
- Pressure in the forehead, temples, or back of the head
- Neck and shoulder muscle tenderness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Irritability and fatigue
Episodes can last from 30 minutes to several days, and for some veterans, they become chronic, occurring multiple times per week.
A VA-accredited attorney explained it this way:
“Many veterans underestimate tension headaches because they’re not migraines, but chronic tension headaches can be just as disabling when they disrupt focus, productivity, and sleep year after year.”
What Causes Tension Headaches in Veterans?
Tension headaches are frequently linked to both physical strain and psychological stressors common in military service.
Common triggers include:
- Chronic stress and anxiety
- Poor posture or prolonged equipment use
- Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- Sleep deprivation
- Eye strain
- Muscle tension in the neck or shoulders
- Caffeine withdrawal and dehydration
For veterans, these triggers often overlap with service-connected conditions, making VA compensation possible.
Tension Headaches and Common Veteran Conditions
Many veterans develop tension headaches secondary to other service-connected disabilities.
Tinnitus
Constant ringing or buzzing forces the brain into a state of chronic strain, frequently leading to headaches.
“Tinnitus-related headaches are one of the most common secondary claims we see among combat veterans,” noted a veterans law representative.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Blast exposure, falls, and vehicle accidents significantly increase the likelihood of chronic headaches.
PTSD and Anxiety Disorders
Stress, poor sleep, and hypervigilance create perfect conditions for recurring tension headaches.
Establishing Service Connection for Tension Headaches
VA benefits begin with service connection, which proves that your headaches are related to your military service.
Direct Service Connection
You must show:
- Current diagnosis of tension-type headaches
- In-service event or condition (stress, injury, exposure, treatment records)
- Medical nexus, stating your condition is “at least as likely as not” linked to service
Lay statements from spouses or coworkers can help describe how headaches began and worsened over time.
Secondary Service Connection
Veterans may also qualify if headaches are caused by another service-connected condition, such as PTSD, TBI, or tinnitus.
A medical opinion connecting the two conditions is key.
“Secondary service connection is often overlooked, but it’s one of the strongest paths when headaches develop years after discharge,” explained a VA-accredited claims agent.
Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams for Tension Headaches
VA typically schedules a C&P exam to evaluate severity and service connection.
During your exam, describe:
- Frequency and duration of headaches
- Whether headaches force you to lie down
- Missed work or reduced productivity
- Concentration or fatigue issues
Missing a scheduled exam can result in immediate denial.
If the exam report is inaccurate or dismissive, veterans may challenge it with an independent medical opinion.
How VA Rates Tension Headaches?
VA evaluates tension headaches by analogy to migraines under 38 CFR § 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100.
VA Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 50% | Frequent, prolonged, prostrating headaches causing severe economic inadaptability |
| 30% | Prostrating headaches occurring about once per month |
| 10% | Prostrating headaches occurring every two months |
| 0% | Non-compensable, less frequent headaches |
Even without migraines, veterans can still qualify if symptoms are functionally disabling.
VA Disability Compensation Payments (2025)
| VA Rating | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| 0% | $0.00 |
| 10% | $175.51 |
| 30% | $537.42 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 |
Additional compensation may be available for dependents.
TDIU and Tension Headaches
Severe tension headaches can qualify veterans for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
Veterans may qualify if headaches prevent full-time employment, even if rated below 100%.
TDIU Paths
- Schedular TDIU: Meets standard rating thresholds
- Extraschedular TDIU: Severe impact despite lower rating
A legal advocate noted:
“Chronic headaches can be invisible on paper but devastating in real life. TDIU recognizes that reality when employment becomes impossible.”
Appealing or Increasing a VA Rating for Tension Headaches
Veterans may appeal if:
- A claim was denied
- The rating is too low
- Symptoms have worsened
- Secondary conditions developed
VA appeal options include:
- Supplemental Claim
- Higher-Level Review
- Board of Veterans’ Appeals
Strong medical opinions and symptom logs significantly improve outcomes.
Why These Claims Matter for Veterans?
Tension headaches are often dismissed, yet they can silently erode a veteran’s ability to work, focus, and function. VA compensation provides not just financial relief but acknowledgment that these conditions are real consequences of service.
As one veterans advocate put it:
“Recognizing tension headaches validates many veterans who’ve suffered quietly for years without realizing help was available.”
FAQs
Can VA deny a tension headache claim because it’s not a migraine?
No. VA rates tension headaches by analogy under migraine criteria.
Do headaches need to be daily to qualify for benefits?
No. Even monthly prostrating headaches may qualify.
Can I file for tension headaches secondary to PTSD?
Yes, with medical evidence linking the conditions.
Are 0% ratings still important?
Yes. They establish service connection for future increases.
Can headaches qualify for TDIU?
Yes, if they prevent gainful employment.
