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Herniated Disc (Thoracic) 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.
A thoracic herniated disc is displacement of the nucleus pulposus through a tear in the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc in the mid-back (T1 through T12), which can compress the spinal cord or an exiting nerve root. Thoracic herniations are far less common than cervical or lumbar ones because the rib cage stabilizes that segment, but when symptomatic they can produce band-like chest or trunk pain, mid-back pain, and in cord-compromise cases myelopathic signs such as lower-extremity weakness, spasticity, gait disturbance, or bowel and bladder dysfunction. Diagnosis is confirmed by MRI; because thoracic radicular pain wraps around the torso, it is frequently mistaken at first for cardiac, pulmonary, or abdominal disease.
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.