YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain (Back or Neck Strain) VA Disability Rating
The VA rates Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain under diagnostic code 5237, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides six evaluation levels for it: 100%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% and 10%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Prepare for your examTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
A strain or sprain of the muscles and ligaments supporting the neck or lower back, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion — often from lifting, impact, or repetitive strain during service.
Rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (38 CFR 4.71a) based on forward flexion and combined range of motion measured by goniometer during a C&P exam, compared to normal ranges (cervical: 0–45 degrees; thoracolumbar: 0–90 degrees), or on ankylosis, muscle spasm, or guarding severe enough to affect gait or spinal contour. Any associated objective neurologic abnormality — including, but not limited to, bowel or bladder impairment — is evaluated separately under an appropriate diagnostic code rather than raising the spine percentage.
- Diagnostic code
- 5237
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 100%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% and 10%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain VA rating criteria (DC 5237)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note (1): Evaluate any associated objective neurologic abnormalities, including, but not limited to, bowel or bladder impairment, separately, under an appropriate diagnostic code.”General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
- “Note (2): (See also Plate V.) For VA compensation purposes, normal forward flexion of the cervical spine is zero to 45 degrees, extension is zero to 45 degrees, left and right lateral flexion are zero to 45 degrees, and left and right lateral rotation are zero to 80 degrees. Normal forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is zero to 90 degrees, extension is zero to 30 degrees, left and right lateral flexion are zero to 30 degrees, and left and right lateral rotation are zero to 30 degrees. The combined range of motion refers to the sum of the range of forward flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, and left and right rotation. The normal combined range of motion of the cervical spine is 340 degrees and of the thoracolumbar spine is 240 degrees. The normal ranges of motion for each component of spinal motion provided in this note are the maximum that can be used for calculation of the combined range of motion.”General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
- “Note (3): In exceptional cases, an examiner may state that because of age, body habitus, neurologic disease, or other factors not the result of disease or injury of the spine, the range of motion of the spine in a particular individual should be considered normal for that individual, even though it does not conform to the normal range of motion stated in Note (2). Provided that the examiner supplies an explanation, the examiner's assessment that the range of motion is normal for that individual will be accepted.”General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
- “Note (4): Round each range of motion measurement to the nearest five degrees.”General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
- “Note (5): For VA compensation purposes, unfavorable ankylosis is a condition in which the entire cervical spine, the entire thoracolumbar spine, or the entire spine is fixed in flexion or extension, and the ankylosis results in one or more of the following: difficulty walking because of a limited line of vision; restricted opening of the mouth and chewing; breathing limited to diaphragmatic respiration; gastrointestinal symptoms due to pressure of the costal margin on the abdomen; dyspnea or dysphagia; atlantoaxial or cervical subluxation or dislocation; or neurologic symptoms due to nerve root stretching. Fixation of a spinal segment in neutral position (zero degrees) always represents favorable ankylosis.”General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
- “Note (6): Separately evaluate disability of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine segments, except when there is unfavorable ankylosis of both segments, which will be rated as a single disability.”General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
A LITTLE PREPARATION HELPS
What the C&P examiner will ask about Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
Think through your own experience before exam day. Open a question to see what the examiner is assessing and which details are useful to describe accurately.
SeverityHow far can you bend forward from the waist?
Measuring spine flexion range of motion. Normal forward flexion is approximately 60-90 degrees from vertical.
- Don't push through severe pain during range of motion testing
- Mention if your range varies throughout the day
- Describe any muscle spasms that limit movement
- Note if movement gets worse with activity or better with rest
- Trying to demonstrate more movement than you normally have
- Not mentioning pain levels during movement testing
- Failing to describe muscle spasms or stiffness that limits motion
SeverityHow long can you sit in one position before needing to change positions?
Evaluating functional sitting tolerance which impacts work capacity and daily activities.
- Think about your tolerance during work, driving, or movies
- Describe what happens when you sit too long: pain, stiffness, spasms
- Mention if you need special cushions or supports
- Note if getting up from sitting is particularly difficult
- Not considering sitting tolerance during work or long activities
- Failing to mention need for position changes during daily activities
- Not describing the difficulty of getting up after sitting
SeverityHow does your back condition affect your sleep and rest?
Assessing sleep disturbance and positioning limitations which indicate symptom severity.
- Describe specific positions that are painful or impossible
- Mention how many times back pain wakes you up per night
- Note any special mattresses, pillows, or supports you need
- Describe morning stiffness and how long it takes to loosen up
- Not mentioning sleep position limitations
- Failing to describe morning stiffness severity
- Not connecting poor sleep to increased daytime back pain
Daily functionDescribe your limitations with bending, lifting, and carrying objects
Evaluating functional spine limitations for activities of daily living and work capacity.
- Be specific about weight limits - 10 lbs, 25 lbs, etc.
- Describe specific daily tasks that are difficult: laundry, groceries, cleaning
- Mention if you need help from family members for household tasks
- Describe pain levels with different activities
- Not being specific about weight limitations
- Forgetting to mention how it affects work duties
- Not describing how long you can sit or stand
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
THE EVERYDAY PICTURE
What the Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain examination has to record
The criteria above are read off an examination, and three sections of Part 4 govern what that examination has to contain. None of them is a diagnostic code, so none of them appears in the 5237 table, and all three apply to it. 38 CFR § 4.40: “Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled.”
38 CFR § 4.45 lists what an examination of a joint is directed to consider:
- Less movement than normal (due to ankylosis, limitation or blocking, adhesions, tendon-tie-up, contracted scars, etc.).
- More movement than normal (from flail joint, resections, nonunion of fracture, relaxation of ligaments, etc.).
- Weakened movement (due to muscle injury, disease or injury of peripheral nerves, divided or lengthened tendons, etc.).
- Excess fatigability.
- Incoordination, impaired ability to execute skilled movements smoothly.
- Pain on movement, swelling, deformity or atrophy of disuse.
38 CFR § 4.59: “It is the intention to recognize actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint.” So a joint that is painful on use is not a finding of nothing, even where the measured motion is close to normal.
The same section says how the joint is to be tested: “The joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint.” An examination that records one measurement, taken once, sitting down, has not done what the section asks, and that is worth reading the exam report for.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Get ROM measured with a goniometer and specifically note pain-limited motion, not just end-range degrees
- 02
Document muscle spasm, guarding, and any abnormal gait or spinal contour on exam
- 03
File for radiculopathy separately if you have radiating numbness, tingling, or weakness — it's evaluated under a different code and paid in addition to the strain rating
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind3 tips
- 01
ROM measured without noting pain-limited motion or additional loss on repetition (DeLuca factors)
- 02
No documentation of muscle spasm or guarding, even when present on exam
- 03
Gap between service separation and first treatment cited against the claim without a medical opinion addressing it
Common filing mistakes3 tips
- 01
Not requesting a goniometer-based range-of-motion exam
- 02
Failing to document flare-ups and their functional impact under 38 CFR 4.40/4.45
- 03
Omitting muscle spasm or guarding findings from lay statements
When symptoms may first appear3 tips
- 01
Acute injury from lifting, a vehicle accident, or a fall during service
- 02
Repetitive strain from carrying gear, prolonged standing, or repeated impact (e.g., airborne operations, motor pool work)
- 03
Gradual worsening after an undocumented or minimally documented in-service incident
LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE
Nerve symptoms are rated separately from the spine
Evaluate any associated objective neurologic abnormalities, including, but not limited to, bowel or bladder impairment, separately, under an appropriate diagnostic code.
So pain, numbness or weakness travelling down a limb is not what raises a Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain evaluation. It is claimed on its own and evaluated under the peripheral-nerve schedule in 38 CFR § 4.124a, then combined with the spine evaluation under 38 CFR § 4.25.
Which nerve code applies is decided by the nerve the evidence identifies, not by where the pain is felt. There is no diagnostic code named radiculopathy, and none named sciatica: both are descriptions of what a nerve is doing, and the schedule rates the nerve.
Two ceilings are worth knowing before claiming one. Under 38 CFR § 4.123, neuritis characterized by loss of reflexes, muscle atrophy, sensory disturbances and constant pain is rated on the scale for the nerve involved up to a maximum equal to severe incomplete paralysis; without those organic changes the maximum is moderate, or moderately severe where the sciatic nerve is involved. Under 38 CFR § 4.124, neuralgia, usually a dull and intermittent pain of typical distribution, is capped at moderate incomplete paralysis.
- DC 8520
Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve
Claimed for the low back and leg
- DC 8620
Sciatic Nerve, Neuritis
Claimed for the low back and leg
- DC 8510
Upper Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)
Claimed for the neck, shoulder and arm
- DC 8511
Middle Radicular Group (Nerve Damage)
Claimed for the neck and arm
SECONDARY TO SOMETHING ELSE
Conditions that can lead to Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
Each links to a page on claiming Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain as secondary to that condition.
YOUR SERVICE STORY
Military jobs associated with Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
More by branch: Army · Marines · Air Force · Navy · Coast Guard · Space Force
THE BROADER PICTURE
Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High – the most commonly service-connected back/neck condition; typically requires only a documented in-service injury or event, a current strain diagnosis, and exam-confirmed loss of motion or muscle spasm.
- Service-connected disabilities (VBA count)
- 1,791,869 disabilities
- Typical rating awarded
- ~10%
Count of service-connected disabilities from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), as of September 30, 2025; the report counts disabilities, not veterans. Approval outlook and typical rating are Vetrify editorial estimates, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
Is Back or Neck Strain a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain under VASRD diagnostic code 5237 (Musculoskeletal System). A strain or sprain of the muscles and ligaments supporting the neck or lower back, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion — often from lifting, impact, or repetitive strain during service.
What VA disability rating can I get for Back or Neck Strain?
Possible VA ratings for Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain are 100%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 100%: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine; 50%: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine; 40%: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine; or forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Back or Neck Strain?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. Per the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), veterans receiving VA compensation as of September 30, 2025 had 1,791,869 service-connected disabilities rated as Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain. The report counts disabilities, not veterans. Estimated approval outlook: High – the most commonly service-connected back/neck condition; typically requires only a documented in-service injury or event, a current strain diagnosis, and exam-confirmed loss of motion or muscle spasm.
What evidence helps prove Back or Neck Strain for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain claim includes: C&P or orthopedic exam showing measured loss of range of motion, muscle spasm, or guarding; Service treatment records documenting the in-service injury, incident, or repetitive strain; Buddy statements or personnel records corroborating the in-service event (e.g., heavy lifting, vehicle accident, parachute jumps).
Which DBQ is used for Back or Neck Strain?
VA's Back (Thoracolumbar Spine) Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's Neck (Cervical Spine) Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Back or Neck Strain?
Common pitfalls when filing for Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain: Not requesting a goniometer-based range-of-motion exam; Failing to document flare-ups and their functional impact under 38 CFR 4.40/4.45; Omitting muscle spasm or guarding findings from lay statements.
What conditions can be secondary to Back or Neck Strain?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain, when a medical opinion links them, include: Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine; Depression. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5237)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.123, neuritis, cranial or peripheral
- 38 CFR § 4.124, neuralgia, cranial or peripheral
- 38 CFR § 4.40, functional loss
- 38 CFR § 4.45, the joints
- 38 CFR § 4.59, painful motion
- VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), service-connected disabilities count, as of September 30, 2025
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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