United States · VA disability · 38 CFR 4.71a
VA diagnostic code 5242: degenerative arthritis of the spine.
Rating criteria for diagnostic code 5242, quoted from the regulation.
DC 5242 (degenerative arthritis of the spine) 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 5242 (degenerative arthritis of the spine) 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 5242 rating criteria
The spine section of 38 CFR 4.71a lists "5242 Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010)". The code has no table of its own: it is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.
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 5242
DC 5242 covers degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome, and points the reader to DC 5003 or 5010 as well. DC 5243 (intervertebral disc syndrome) is a separate code that the regulation says to assign only when there is disc herniation with compression and/or irritation of the adjacent nerve root; the regulation says to assign DC 5242 for all other disc diagnoses.
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. Thoracolumbar (lower back) and cervical (neck) measures are separate lines in the same level, and Note (6) says the two segments are rated separately unless both are unfavorably ankylosed.
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 5242?
Degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease other than intervertebral disc syndrome (also, see either DC 5003 or 5010), in the spine section of 38 CFR 4.71a.
How does DC 5242 differ from DC 5243?
The regulation says to assign DC 5243 (intervertebral disc syndrome) only when there is disc herniation with compression and/or irritation of the adjacent nerve root, and to assign DC 5242 for all other disc diagnoses.
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).
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.