VASRD 5239 · Musculoskeletal System – Spine
Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability VA Disability Rating
Spondylolisthesis is when one vertebra slips forward over another, often causing back pain and nerve compression.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | The entire spine — neck and back together — is fused rigid in a poor position, meeting VA's definition of unfavorable ankylosis. |
| 50% | The whole mid and lower back is fused rigid in a poor position, though the neck still moves. |
| 40% | The whole neck is fused rigid in a poor position, the lower back bends forward only 30 degrees or less, or the whole mid and lower back is fused in a neutral position. |
| 30% | The neck bends forward only 15 degrees or less, or the whole neck is fused in a neutral position. |
| 20% | Moderate loss of back or neck motion, or muscle spasm or guarding bad enough to change how you walk or hold your spine. |
| 10% | Mild loss of back or neck motion; or muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness that does not change gait or posture; or a vertebral body that lost half its height or more in a fracture. |
How the VA Evaluates Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability
Rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (38 CFR 4.71a) on measured forward flexion, combined range of motion, muscle spasm or guarding, and ankylosis. X-rays, MRI, or flexion-extension views document the slippage or instability; the Meyerding grade a radiologist assigns is not a VA rating scale and does not set the percentage. 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.
Approval outlook
Moderate – higher with imaging and neuro symptoms.
Veterans service-connected
~11,100 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~30%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •Flexion-extension spinal X-rays
- •MRI or CT showing slippage
- •ROM testing and nerve assessments
- •Personal statements describing flare-ups
Strategy Tips
- •Use dynamic spine imaging (flexion-extension)
- •Describe activities limited by instability
- •Mention neurologic signs like tingling or weakness
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •Not providing imaging of segmental movement
- •Overlapping diagnosis with general back pain
- •Lack of detail about nerve symptoms
Common Filing Mistakes
- •No proof of vertebral instability
- •Incomplete ROM or neurologic documentation
- •Submitting under general low back pain
Onset Patterns
- •Often develops from trauma, degeneration, or repetitive stress
- •May present with sudden back pain or radiating leg symptoms
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Common questions about Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability
- Is Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability under VASRD diagnostic code 5239 (Musculoskeletal System – Spine). Spondylolisthesis is when one vertebra slips forward over another, often causing back pain and nerve compression.
- What VA disability rating can I get for Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability?
- Possible VA ratings for Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability are 100%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%. Examples: 100%: The entire spine — neck and back together — is fused rigid in a poor position, meeting VA's definition of unfavorable ankylosis.; 50%: The whole mid and lower back is fused rigid in a poor position, th…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 11,100 veterans are service-connected for Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate – higher with imaging and n…
- What evidence helps prove Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability claim includes: Flexion-extension spinal X-rays; MRI or CT showing slippage; ROM testing and nerve assessments; Personal statements describing flare-ups.
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability: No proof of vertebral instability; Incomplete ROM or neurologic documentation; Submitting under general low back pain.
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Spondylolisthesis or Segmental Instability include: Radiculopathy, Chronic Pain Syndrome. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
- Does Grade 3 spondylolisthesis get a specific VA rating?
- No. Meyerding grading (1-4) measures how far a vertebra has slipped and comes from your radiologist or surgeon — it isn't a VA rating scale. VA rates spondylolisthesis (VASRD 5239) under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, based on measured forward flexion, combined range of motion, muscle spasm or guarding, and ankylosis. Two veterans with the same Grade 3 slippage can receive very different VA ratings depending on those functional findings, not the grade itself. The Incapacitating Episodes formula is not an alternative here — Note (2) restricts it to diagnostic code 5243, intervertebral disc syndrome. Any associated objective neurologic abnormality is evaluated separately under its own diagnostic code rather than raising the spine percentage.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a — Schedule of ratings — musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5239)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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