Intervertebral disc syndrome (DC 5243) | VA Rating Tool
| Diagnostic Code | 5243 |
|---|---|
| Category | The Musculoskeletal System |
| Subcategory | Spine |
| Also Known As | back pain, bulging disc, herniated disc, Intervertebral disc syndrome, ivds, lower back pain, slipped disc, disc herniation, pinched nerve in back, sciatica, radiating pain, agent orange |
| CFR Section | 38 CFR § 4.71a |
📊 What Veterans Actually Get
IVDS is most commonly rated at 20% for incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks in the past year. The 40% requires 4-6 weeks of incapacitating episodes.
Next Steps for This Condition
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine |
| 60% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months |
| 50% | Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar 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 |
| 40% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks but less than 6 weeks during the past 12 months |
| 30% | Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine |
| 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 an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis |
| 20% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 2 weeks but less than 4 weeks during the past 12 months |
| 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 |
| 10% | With incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least one week but less than 2 weeks during the past 12 months |
Conditions Secondary to This
9 linksAltered gait from disc-related back pain places abnormal stress on the knees.
Persistent pain, flare-ups, and activity limitations are strongly associated with depression.
Disc herniation or stenosis can compress the sciatic nerve and cause sciatica.
Compensation for chronic back pain transfers extra load to the hips.
When the cervical spine is involved, disc problems can compress nerves affecting the arms and hands.
Lumbar nerve compression and pain medication side effects can contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Changes in gait from disc disease can alter foot mechanics and contribute to plantar and flatfoot symptoms.
Pain, missed work, and fear of future limitations often contribute to anxiety.
Opioids, muscle relaxers, and reduced mobility can contribute to sleep apnea.
This May Be Secondary To
No upstream secondary-condition mappings point to this diagnostic code yet.
Disclaimer: Secondary connections shown are based on commonly established medical links. Individual claims require medical evidence. Consult a VSO or VA-accredited attorney.