What rates 30% for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 30% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) requires: Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

What rates 50% for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 50% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) requires: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

What rates 100% for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 100% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) requires: Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.

What happens during a C&P exam for Herniated Disc (Lumbar)?

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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Herniated Disc (Lumbar)

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Herniated Disc (Lumbar)?

Herniated Disc (Lumbar) (DC 5243) is rated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 100%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60% under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243. 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 Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 10% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) 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 Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 20% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) 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 Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 40% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) 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 rates 10% for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 10% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) requires: Intervertebral disc syndrome rated on incapacitating episodes (whichever method yields the higher evaluation): incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least one week but less than 2 weeks during the past 12 months.

Q: What rates 20% for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 20% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) requires: Intervertebral disc syndrome rated on incapacitating episodes (whichever method yields the higher evaluation): incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks during the past 12 months.

Q: What rates 40% for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243?

Under 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 (DC 5243), a 40% rating for Herniated Disc (Lumbar) requires: Intervertebral disc syndrome rated on incapacitating episodes (whichever method yields the higher evaluation): incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

DC 524338 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Diagnostic Code

DC 5243

38 C.F.R. § 4.71a

Rating Range

10–100%

10 severity tiers

Source

Referenced

38 C.F.R. Part 4

Herniated Disc (Lumbar) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5243 of 38 CFR § 4.71a, DC 5243 across 10 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

A lumbar herniated disc (also called a herniated nucleus pulposus, ruptured, slipped, or prolapsed disc) occurs when the soft inner gel of an intervertebral disc pushes through a tear in the tough outer annulus fibrosus in the lower back, most often at the L4-L5 or L5-S1 levels. The displaced disc material can compress or chemically irritate adjacent lumbar or sacral nerve roots, producing low back pain, limited and painful spinal motion, muscle spasm or guarding, and radiating leg pain, numbness, or weakness (sciatica/radiculopathy). For VA purposes it is rated as intervertebral disc syndrome under Diagnostic Code 5243, where the orthopedic loss of the lumbar spine and any separately ratable nerve involvement together drive the overall evaluation.

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.

10%

Intervertebral disc syndrome rated on incapacitating episodes (whichever method yields the higher evaluation): incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least one week but less than 2 weeks during the past 12 months.

20%

Intervertebral disc syndrome rated on incapacitating episodes (whichever method yields the higher evaluation): incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks during the past 12 months.

40%

Intervertebral disc syndrome rated on incapacitating episodes (whichever method yields the higher evaluation): incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

60%

Intervertebral disc syndrome rated on incapacitating episodes (whichever method yields the higher evaluation): incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

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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