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Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) VA Disability Rating is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5242 of 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a across 5 severity tiers (100% -- Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine / 50% -- Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine / 40% -- Forward flexion 30 degrees or less / 20% -- Forward flexion 31-60 degrees / 10% -- Forward flexion 61-85 degrees). 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.
Degenerative disc disease (DC 5242) is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine based on ROM, or under the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes. DDD frequently progresses from an initial thoracolumbar strain diagnosis.
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) (DC 5242) is evaluated under 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a using the spine rating framework. Because it is rated by analogy to the general schedule, the 5 levels below describe the body-system criteria the VA applies — the percentage assigned to Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) depends on the specific findings (range of motion, frequency, severity, or functional loss) documented at the C&P exam and in the medical record.
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.