In order to be awarded SSDI disability benefits, you must show a “medically determinable impairment.” This means medical tests must support your claims.
Occasionally, evidence of migraine headaches can be seen on MRI, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Often times, administrative law judges (ALJs) will deny disability claims based to migraines because there is no medical testing to support the claims. This can happen even if you have three specialists state that you have severe migraines. Such decisions are within the discretion of the ALJ, so appeals are often unsuccessful.
A new U.S. District Court decision requires ALJs to consider migraine headaches under the same criteria as they are required to evaluate non-convulsive epilepsy. (Listing 11.03) This listing requires the ALJ to consider the frequency of migraines, the length of time they last, and any residual effects following migraines.
This is a huge win for individuals suffering from chronic migraines that are preventing them from maintaining employment.
