What rates 30% for Cervical Spondylosis under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242 (DC 5242), a 30% rating for Cervical Spondylosis requires: Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

What rates 50% for Cervical Spondylosis under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242 (DC 5242), a 50% rating for Cervical Spondylosis requires: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

What rates 100% for Cervical Spondylosis under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242 (DC 5242), a 100% rating for Cervical Spondylosis requires: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.

What happens during a C&P exam for Cervical Spondylosis?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

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Cervical Spondylosis

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Cervical Spondylosis?

Cervical Spondylosis (DC 5242) is rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 100% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242. 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.

Q: What rates 10% for Cervical Spondylosis under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242 (DC 5242), a 10% rating for Cervical Spondylosis requires: 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.

Q: What rates 20% for Cervical Spondylosis under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242 (DC 5242), a 20% rating for Cervical Spondylosis requires: 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 abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis.

Q: What rates 40% for Cervical Spondylosis under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242 (DC 5242), a 40% rating for Cervical Spondylosis requires: 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.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Cervical Spondylosis VA claim?

Key evidence for a Cervical Spondylosis claim includes: Service treatment records showing injury or complaints; Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT); Range of motion measurements; Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin; Buddy statements describing limitations. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 524238 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5242

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

10–100%

6 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Cervical Spondylosis is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5242 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5242 across 6 severity tiers (10% / 20% / 30% / 40% / 50%…). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Cervical spondylosis is age-related or wear-and-tow degenerative change of the cervical spine (neck), encompassing intervertebral disc desiccation and narrowing, osteophyte (bone spur) formation, facet-joint arthritis, and ligament thickening. It commonly produces neck pain and stiffness, reduced range of motion, and headaches, and when degenerative spurs or disc material narrow the spinal canal or nerve-root foramina it can cause cervical radiculopathy (arm pain, numbness, weakness) or, in advanced cases, cervical myelopathy. For VA purposes it is rated as degenerative arthritis / degenerative disc disease of the spine under Diagnostic Code 5242, primarily on the basis of limitation of cervical motion and ankylosis.

Rating Criteria

10%

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.

20%

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 abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis.

30%

Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical 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.

50%

Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

100%

Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.

Key Evidence

—Service treatment records showing injury or complaints

—Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)

—Range of motion measurements

—Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin

—Buddy statements describing limitations

—Prescription history

—Physical therapy records

—Employment impact documentation

C&P Exam Tips

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

Sources & Editorial

Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.

View 38 C.F.R. Part 4 on eCFR →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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