United States · VA disability · 38 CFR 4.71a
VA diagnostic code 5237: lumbosacral or cervical strain.
Rating criteria for diagnostic code 5237, quoted from the regulation.
DC 5237 (lumbosacral or cervical strain) is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine in 38 CFR 4.71a, which has levels of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100 percent based on range of motion, ankylosis and certain other findings.
The short version
DC 5237 (lumbosacral or cervical strain) is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine in 38 CFR 4.71a, which has levels of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100 percent based on range of motion, ankylosis and certain other findings. The levels in the code are 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100 percent.
DC 5237 rating criteria
The spine section of 38 CFR 4.71a lists "5237 Lumbosacral or cervical strain". The code has no table of its own: it is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, which covers diagnostic codes 5235 to 5243.
General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
| Criteria (quoted from the regulation) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine | 100% |
| Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine | 50% |
| 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 | 40% |
| Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine | 30% |
| Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 15 degrees but not greater than 30 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees; or, the combined range of motion of the cervical spine not greater than 170 degrees; or, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis | 20% |
| Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 degrees but not greater than 85 degrees; or, forward flexion of the cervical spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 40 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 120 degrees but not greater than 235 degrees; or, combined range of motion of the cervical spine greater than 170 degrees but not greater than 335 degrees; or, muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour; or, vertebral body fracture with loss of 50 percent or more of the height | 10% |
Notes in the regulation
- Preamble: The formula applies to diagnostic codes 5235 to 5243 (unless 5243 is evaluated under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes), with or without symptoms such as pain (whether or not it radiates), stiffness, or aching in the area of the spine affected by residuals of injury or disease.
- Note (1): Evaluate any associated objective neurologic abnormalities, including, but not limited to, bowel or bladder impairment, separately, under an appropriate diagnostic code.
- Note (2): For VA compensation purposes, 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. 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. 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.
- Note (4): Round each range of motion measurement to the nearest five degrees.
- 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.
How to read DC 5237
The formula rates by what is measured: forward flexion, combined range of motion, ankylosis, and for the lower levels muscle spasm, guarding or localized tenderness. Each level lists alternatives joined by "or". Thoracolumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) measures are separate lines in the same level, which is why Note (6) matters: the two segments are rated separately unless both are unfavorably ankylosed.
Because DC 5237 covers both lumbosacral and cervical strain, the same code can apply to either segment. The normal ranges in Note (2) differ between the segments, so the same number of degrees of forward flexion can fall at a different level depending on the segment.
Neurologic problems are not part of this table. Note (1) says to evaluate any associated objective neurologic abnormalities, including bowel or bladder impairment, separately under an appropriate diagnostic code.
What this page does not do
It does not diagnose, pick a diagnostic code, estimate your rating or advise on a claim. Every rating decision depends on the medical evidence and on VA’s application of the full schedule, including provisions this page does not reproduce.
Frequently asked questions
What is DC 5237?
Lumbosacral or cervical strain in the spine section of 38 CFR 4.71a.
Which rating formula applies?
The General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, which applies to diagnostic codes 5235 to 5243 (unless 5243 is evaluated under the incapacitating-episodes formula).
What are the normal ranges of motion?
Note (2): thoracolumbar forward flexion zero to 90 degrees, extension zero to 30, lateral flexion zero to 30 each side, rotation zero to 30 each side (combined 240 degrees); cervical forward flexion zero to 45, extension zero to 45, lateral flexion zero to 45 each side, rotation zero to 80 each side (combined 340 degrees).
How are measurements rounded?
Note (4): round each range of motion measurement to the nearest five degrees.
Are the neck and the low back rated together?
Note (6): disability of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine segments is evaluated separately, except when there is unfavorable ankylosis of both segments, which is rated as a single disability.
Does this page say what rating I should get?
No. It reproduces the published criteria. VA decides the diagnosis and the rating, and this page is not medical or claim advice.
Sources
Read directly from the primary sources below on November 2, 2026 (eCFR text current through October 29, 2026). Quotations are the regulation text; anything labelled as a reading is TNAADO's. The schedule is amended from time to time, so check the linked section for the latest text.
Reference, not a VA determination, medical advice or claim advice
Rating criteria summarized from 38 CFR 4.71a as of October 29, 2026 (eCFR). This page reproduces published criteria so you can read them; it does not tell you whether you qualify, what your rating should be, or how to file. VA decides the diagnosis, the code and the rating. It is not legal, financial or medical advice; an accredited representative (VSO, attorney or claims agent) can review your case.