Intervertebral Disc Syndrome vs Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine: VA Rating Comparison
Educational reference, not legal advice or claims assistance. This page compares how the VA rates two conditions. It does not tell you which to claim; that depends on your diagnosis and evidence. For help with a specific claim, work with a free VA-accredited representative.
How the VA rates Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (diagnostic code 5243) compared with Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine (diagnostic code 5242), under 38 CFR Part 4. This is a factual side-by-side of the rating criteria, the kind veterans look up when two conditions sound similar.
Different rating ladders
Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (up to 100%) and Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine (up to 100%) are rated on different criteria. The correct code for a given veteran is the one that matches the diagnosis and symptoms in the medical evidence, not the one with the higher ceiling.Rating criteria side by side
DC 5243 · Musculoskeletal System
Intervertebral Disc Syndrome
Maximum schedular rating: 100%
| 60% | You qualify for this rating under the Incapacitating Episodes formula if your intervertebral disc syndrome has caused at least 6 weeks total of doctor-ordered bed rest over the last 12 months. An incapacitating episode means an acute flare-up requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician. |
|---|---|
| 40% | You qualify for this rating under the Incapacitating Episodes formula if your intervertebral disc syndrome has caused at least 4 but less than 6 weeks total of doctor-ordered bed rest over the last 12 months. An incapacitating episode means an acute flare-up requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician. |
| 20% | You qualify for this rating under the Incapacitating Episodes formula if your intervertebral disc syndrome has caused at least 2 but less than 4 weeks total of doctor-ordered bed rest over the last 12 months. An incapacitating episode means an acute flare-up requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician. |
| 10% | You qualify for this rating under the Incapacitating Episodes formula if your intervertebral disc syndrome has caused at least 1 but less than 2 weeks total of doctor-ordered bed rest over the last 12 months. An incapacitating episode means an acute flare-up requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician. |
| 100% | Your entire spine has fused together in a bad position that severely limits your ability to move your back and neck (unfavorable ankylosis means the bones have grown together abnormally). This complete fusion makes it extremely difficult or impossible to bend, twist, or turn your spine in any direction, significantly impacting your daily activities and quality of life. |
| 50% | Your entire middle and lower back spine has fused together in a way that severely limits your movement and function. Unfavorable ankylosis means the vertebrae (spine bones) have grown together abnormally, creating a rigid, inflexible spine that significantly restricts your ability to bend, twist, or move your back normally. |
| 40% | You qualify for this rating if your entire neck is fused or locked in place in a bad position (unfavorable ankylosis), or if you can only bend forward 30 degrees or less in your mid to lower back, or if your entire mid to lower back is fused in a good functional position (favorable ankylosis). Ankylosis means your spine joints have become stiff and immobile, either naturally from your condition or surgically fused together. |
| 30% | You qualify for this rating if your neck can only bend forward 15 degrees or less (normal is about 50 degrees), or if your entire neck spine has fused together in a good position (favorable ankylosis means the bones have grown together but in a way that doesn't cause major problems). This represents severe limitation in neck movement that significantly restricts your ability to look down or bend your head forward. |
| 20% | You qualify for this rating if your back or neck injury limits how far you can bend forward - either bending your back forward between 30-60 degrees or bending your neck forward between 15-30 degrees. You also qualify if your overall spine movement is significantly restricted (back movements totaling 120 degrees or less, neck movements totaling 170 degrees or less), or if you have severe muscle spasms that cause you to walk abnormally or develop visible spine curvature like a hunched back, loss of natural back curve, or sideways spine curvature. |
| 10% | You qualify for this rating if your spine injury limits how far you can bend forward - either to about shoulder height for your lower back or chin-to-chest level for your neck. You also qualify if you have muscle spasms, stiffness when moving (guarding), or tender spots along your spine that don't cause you to walk differently or change your spine's normal curves. Additionally, you qualify if X-rays show a vertebral fracture where the bone has collapsed by half or more of its original height. |
DC 5242 · Musculoskeletal System
Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine
Maximum schedular rating: 100%
| 100% | Your entire spine has fused together in a bad position that severely limits your ability to move your back and neck (unfavorable ankylosis means the bones have grown together abnormally). This complete fusion makes it extremely difficult or impossible to bend, twist, or turn your spine in any direction, significantly impacting your daily activities and quality of life. |
|---|---|
| 50% | Your entire middle and lower back spine has fused together in a way that severely limits your movement and function. Unfavorable ankylosis means the vertebrae (spine bones) have grown together abnormally, creating a rigid, inflexible spine that significantly restricts your ability to bend, twist, or move your back normally. |
| 40% | You qualify for this rating if your entire neck is fused or locked in place in a bad position (unfavorable ankylosis), or if you can only bend forward 30 degrees or less in your mid to lower back, or if your entire mid to lower back is fused in a good functional position (favorable ankylosis). Ankylosis means your spine joints have become stiff and immobile, either naturally from your condition or surgically fused together. |
| 30% | You qualify for this rating if your neck can only bend forward 15 degrees or less (normal is about 50 degrees), or if your entire neck spine has fused together in a good position (favorable ankylosis means the bones have grown together but in a way that doesn't cause major problems). This represents severe limitation in neck movement that significantly restricts your ability to look down or bend your head forward. |
| 20% | You qualify for this rating if your back or neck injury limits how far you can bend forward - either bending your back forward between 30-60 degrees or bending your neck forward between 15-30 degrees. You also qualify if your overall spine movement is significantly restricted (back movements totaling 120 degrees or less, neck movements totaling 170 degrees or less), or if you have severe muscle spasms that cause you to walk abnormally or develop visible spine curvature like a hunched back, loss of natural back curve, or sideways spine curvature. |
| 10% | You qualify for this rating if your spine injury limits how far you can bend forward - either to about shoulder height for your lower back or chin-to-chest level for your neck. You also qualify if you have muscle spasms, stiffness when moving (guarding), or tender spots along your spine that don't cause you to walk differently or change your spine's normal curves. Additionally, you qualify if X-rays show a vertebral fracture where the bone has collapsed by half or more of its original height. |
Criteria are summarized in plain language. The controlling text is the Schedule for Rating Disabilities, 38 CFR Part 4. Full criteria for each are on the Intervertebral Disc Syndrome and Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine code pages.
Can both be rated at the same time?
The VA generally does not rate the same disability twice. Under the anti-pyramiding rule (38 CFR 4.14), two conditions are rated separately only when they cause distinct, non-overlapping symptoms. When the symptoms overlap, the VA assigns a single rating under whichever code best fits. Whether Intervertebral Disc Syndrome and Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine can be rated separately depends on the symptoms documented in the evidence. See the pyramiding guide.
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