# The migraine DBQ: how the headaches questionnaire is used

> How the VA headaches DBQ is used in a migraine claim, the topics it covers — diagnosis, attack frequency, prostrating character, treatment, and work impact — and how to prepare accurate answers.

Canonical: https://aivaclaims.com/conditions/migraine-va-rating/dbq

Last updated: 2026-10-27

Updated October 27, 2026 · By AIVA

The Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) for headaches is the structured form used to record the findings a migraine rating is based on. It covers the diagnosis, the frequency and character of attacks — including whether attacks are prostrating — treatment, and the effect on work: the same elements the DC 8100 criteria measure.

## [What the DBQ is and who completes it](#what-the-dbq-is-and-who-completes-it)

A Disability Benefits Questionnaire is a structured medical questionnaire. For headaches, it records the diagnosis and findings in the form VA uses to evaluate the claim, and the completed questionnaire becomes part of the claim evidence.

A DBQ may be completed by the examiner at a claim (C&P) exam, or by your own treating provider. Either way, what it records should match the rest of your evidence — your treatment records and your headache log included.

[VA: Claim exam (C&P exam)](https://www.va.gov/resources/va-claim-exam/)

## [The topics it covers](#the-topics-it-covers)

The headaches questionnaire follows the elements the rating criteria measure. In general terms, it covers:

- The diagnosis and the history of the headache condition
- Symptoms experienced during attacks
- How often attacks occur, and how often attacks are prostrating
- Treatment, including medication and its effects
- The effect of the condition on work and daily activity

[38 CFR 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100 — Migraine (eCFR)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/part-4/section-4.124a)

## [Prepare with your records, not a script](#prepare-with-your-records-not-a-script)

The examiner records what you report and what the records show. Describe a typical attack and your worst attacks accurately, and say plainly what an attack makes you stop doing — that is the prostrating question the criteria turn on. Do not minimize attacks you have learned to endure, and do not borrow symptoms that are not yours.

VA advises submitting new non-VA medical records before a claim exam rather than only bringing them along, because records handed to an examiner do not enter the claim file by themselves. The C&P exam preparation guide walks through the appointment itself.

[VA: Claim exam (C&P exam)](https://www.va.gov/resources/va-claim-exam/)

## DBQ preparation checklist

Gather these from your own records before an exam or an appointment where a DBQ may be completed. Accurate notes from your log and treatment history are worth more than a rehearsed description.

- Your headache log covering the last several months
- A list of current migraine medications and any side effects
- Your treatment history: providers, dates, and what was tried
- Examples of work missed or duties you could not complete during attacks
- A plain list of your symptoms during an attack
- Notes on what you do when an attack starts, and how long recovery takes

## Related help

- [Migraine VA rating hub](https://aivaclaims.com/conditions/migraine-va-rating)
- [What prostrating attacks mean](https://aivaclaims.com/conditions/migraine-va-rating/prostrating-attacks)
- [C&P exam preparation](https://aivaclaims.com/guides/c-and-p-exam-preparation)

## Check your likely claim paths

Answer a few taps in AIVA's pre-eligibility check and see the paths that may fit your situation, before you decide anything.

[Start the pre-eligibility check](https://aivaclaims.com/check)

This educational series reproduces and explains the linked regulation and VA sources. It is not an individual legal or medical assessment, and it does not predict a rating. For representation or help with your claim, [find VA-accredited assistance](https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/). Check the current VA instructions and your own decision letter before filing.