This reference uses VA rating codes. For a code from a medical record, check ICD-10-CM and the service date. A clinical code alone does not establish a VA rating or a matching VA diagnostic code.
Lumbosacral or cervical strain
Musculoskeletal · 38 CFR § 4.71a
Diagnostic Code 5237 is the VASRD entry for Lumbosacral or cervical strain. VA applies the controlling criteria, shared formulas, and special instructions shown in 38 CFR Part 4. VMC presents this material for education and reference; it does not determine a Veteran's diagnosis, service connection, or evaluation.
Recorded index labels
These labels are already stored for this diagnostic code. They are not a new condition, rating, or medical relationship.
Appendix C
- Cervical strain
- Lumbosacral strain
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Source-verified VASRD criteria
How VA rates this — General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
These percentages summarize the regulatory criteria already mapped to this diagnostic code. They do not predict a Veteran's individual evaluation or establish service connection.
Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine
Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine
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
Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less; or, favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine
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
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
Special rating instructions
- General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
- (For diagnostic codes 5235 to 5243 unless 5243 is evaluated under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes):
- With or without symptoms such as pain (whether or not it radiates), stiffness, or aching in the area of the spine affected by residuals of injury or disease
- Note (1): Evaluate any associated objective neurologic abnormalities, including, but not limited to, bowel or bladder impairment, separately, under an appropriate diagnostic code.
- Note (2): (See also Plate V.) For VA compensation purposes, normal forward flexion of the cervical spine is zero to 45 degrees, extension is zero to 45 degrees, left and right lateral flexion are zero to 45 degrees, and left and right lateral rotation are zero to 80 degrees. Normal forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine is zero to 90 degrees, extension is zero to 30 degrees, left and right lateral flexion are zero to 30 degrees, and left and right lateral rotation are zero to 30 degrees. The combined range of motion refers to the sum of the range of forward flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion, and left and right rotation. The normal combined range of motion of the cervical spine is 340 degrees and of the thoracolumbar spine is 240 degrees. The normal ranges of motion for each component of spinal motion provided in this note are the maximum that can be used for calculation of the combined range of motion.
- Note (3): In exceptional cases, an examiner may state that because of age, body habitus, neurologic disease, or other factors not the result of disease or injury of the spine, the range of motion of the spine in a particular individual should be considered normal for that individual, even though it does not conform to the normal range of motion stated in Note (2). Provided that the examiner supplies an explanation, the examiner's assessment that the range of motion is normal for that individual will be accepted.
- Note (4): Round each range of motion measurement to the nearest five degrees.
- Note (5): For VA compensation purposes, unfavorable ankylosis is a condition in which the entire cervical spine, the entire thoracolumbar spine, or the entire spine is fixed in flexion or extension, and the ankylosis results in one or more of the following: difficulty walking because of a limited line of vision; restricted opening of the mouth and chewing; breathing limited to diaphragmatic respiration; gastrointestinal symptoms due to pressure of the costal margin on the abdomen; dyspnea or dysphagia; atlantoaxial or cervical subluxation or dislocation; or neurologic symptoms due to nerve root stretching. Fixation of a spinal segment in neutral position (zero degrees) always represents favorable ankylosis.
- Note (6): Separately evaluate disability of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine segments, except when there is unfavorable ankylosis of both segments, which will be rated as a single disability.
Body system and anatomy metadata
Body system: Musculoskeletal
Anatomy / region tags: multi region, cervical spine
These tags support discovery and body-map compatibility. They do not establish Veteran-specific laterality or entitlement.
Official VA DBQ references
DBQ catalog: va-dbq-2026.09.16 · Retrieved 2026-09-16. Official VA inventory ↗
- Amputations ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Ankle ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Back (Thoracolumbar Spine) ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Bones and Other Skeletal Conditions ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
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Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
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Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Hand and Finger ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Hip and Thigh ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Knee and Lower Leg ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Muscle Injuries ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Neck (Cervical Spine) ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Osteomyelitis ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Shoulder and/or Arm ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Temporomandibular Disorders ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Wrist ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Musculoskeletal
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Arthritis ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Rheumatological
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Rheumatological
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and other Autoimmune Diseases ↗ Related resourceCatalog category: Rheumatological
Related by body system only. No reviewed condition-specific form match or requirement has been established.
VA maintains some examination forms that are not available for public use. VMC does not infer a one-code-to-one-DBQ relationship.
Evidence information
When reviewing the criteria, useful evidence categories can include diagnosis and treatment records, objective testing identified by the schedule, documented frequency/duration/severity when the criteria use those concepts, and functional effects described in medical or lay evidence. The relevant evidence depends on the actual claim and medical facts.
VMC does not diagnose conditions, guarantee a percentage, or advise anyone to exaggerate symptoms.
Legal basis and source identification
38 CFR § 4.71a · Source current through 2026-08-06 · Verified 2026-08-10
Registry content release: vasrd-registry-2026.08.1