Cervical Strain (Neck Strain)
Chronic strain of the neck muscles and ligaments. VA rates it on how far you can move your neck under the same spine formula used for the low back, with neck-specific degree thresholds.
How the VA rates it
DC 5237 covers both lumbosacral and cervical strain; a neck strain and a low back strain are separate ratings for separate spine segments even though they share the code. Rating uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, applied to cervical range of motion (normal cervical forward flexion is 0 to 45 degrees; normal combined cervical motion is 340 degrees). Painful motion generally warrants at least 10 percent under 38 CFR 4.59, and radiating arm symptoms are rated separately as radiculopathy.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 100%Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.
Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.
Forward flexion of the cervical spine 15 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.
Cervical flexion greater than 15 but not greater than 30 degrees; or combined cervical range of motion 170 degrees or less; or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to cause abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour.
Cervical flexion greater than 30 but not greater than 40 degrees; or combined cervical motion greater than 170 but not greater than 335 degrees; or muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness without abnormal gait or contour; or vertebral fracture with 50 percent or more height loss.
What those terms mean
- ankylosis
- — The joint or spine is frozen stiff and cannot move. 'Favorable' means stuck in a usable position; 'unfavorable' means stuck in a position that makes daily life harder.
- radiculopathy
- — Nerve pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates from the spine into an arm or leg (sciatica is the most common example).
- range of motion
- — How far you can move the joint, measured in degrees with a goniometer at your C&P exam. Painful motion counts against the range.
- flexion
- — Bending the joint (e.g., bending your knee or leaning forward).
Secondary condition strategy
Commonly claimed secondary to this
Conditions veterans often develop from this one — each can be its own rating under 38 CFR 3.310.
- Upper Extremity Radiculopathy — Cervical spine conditions commonly irritate nerve roots serving the shoulders, arms, and hands; each affected arm is rated separately.
- Migraines / Cervicogenic Headaches — Chronic neck conditions are a recognized trigger for cervicogenic and migraine-type headaches claimed as secondary.
- Major Depressive Disorder — Depression secondary to chronic neck pain and sleep disruption is commonly claimed.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- Neck thresholds differ from the low back: flexion of 15 degrees or less already supports 30 percent, so precise goniometer measurements at the C&P exam matter a great deal.
- Report headaches that start at the neck and radiating arm numbness or tingling; both can support separate secondary ratings.
- Document flare-ups (frequency, duration, what motion you lose) so the examiner can estimate additional degrees lost during flares.
- If you carried heavy gear, wore flight helmets or body armor, or had a documented MVA or airborne/combat injury in service, tie that history explicitly to your current diagnosis.
Rating rules to know
The cervical and thoracolumbar spine are rated as separate segments, so a neck rating and a low back rating can both be assigned. But only one rating applies to the cervical segment itself; 5237 cannot be stacked with 5242 or 5243 for the same neck condition. Radiculopathy is rated separately per arm.
Related diagnostic codes
More musculoskeletal conditions
Lumbosacral Strain (Low Back Strain)
Chronic strain of the low back muscles and ligaments, one of the most commonly claimed VA disabilities. VA rates it on how far you can bend and move your low back, not on how much it hurts.
Rated up to 100%
Limitation of Knee Flexion
The most commonly rated knee disability: how far you can bend the knee. Ratings run 0 to 30 percent based on measured flexion, with a 10 percent floor for a painful knee under the painful-motion rule.
Rated up to 30%
Degenerative Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Wear-and-tear arthritis confirmed by X-ray. VA rates it through the motion limits of each affected joint, with a 10 percent floor for a painful arthritic joint even when motion is nearly normal.
Rated up to 20%
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Wear-and-tear breakdown of the spinal discs and joints, in the low back or neck. VA rates it on measured spinal motion under the same formula used for back and neck strain.
Rated up to 100%
Plantar Fasciitis
Inflammation of the tissue band supporting the arch, causing heel and arch pain. VA gave it its own diagnostic code in 2021, rated 10 to 30 percent based mainly on whether treatment provides relief.
Rated up to 40%
Limited Motion of the Ankle
Chronic ankle conditions (often old sprains or arthritis) are rated 10 or 20 percent based on measured loss of up-and-down motion, using specific degree cutoffs added to the rule in 2021.
Rated up to 20%
Disclaimer: Valor Rating is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Always review your documents carefully before submitting to the VA. For official guidance, consult an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney.