Back conditions are among the most common service-connected disabilities — and one of the few rated mostly by a tape-measure number: how far forward you can bend. Understanding that number tells you what rating to expect.
Rated by forward flexion
The VA uses the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (38 CFR §4.71a). For the lower back (thoracolumbar spine), the main measurement is forward flexion — how many degrees you can bend forward — measured with a goniometer at your C&P exam.
| Rating | Thoracolumbar (lower back) criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Forward flexion greater than 60° but not more than 85°; or combined range of motion 120°–235°; or muscle spasm/guarding that doesn't change gait or spinal contour. |
| 20% | Forward flexion greater than 30° but not more than 60°; or combined range of motion of 120° or less; or muscle spasm/guarding severe enough to cause an abnormal gait or spinal contour. |
| 40% | Forward flexion of 30° 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. |
("Ankylosis" means the spine is fixed/fused in position.)
What it pays in 2026
For a single veteran in 2026: 10% = $180.42, 20% = $356.66, 40% = $795.84 per month. Back conditions often sit at 10–20% on their own — but they frequently bring secondary ratings that add up.
Sciatica is rated separately
This is the part veterans most often miss. Nerve pain radiating down the leg (radiculopathy / sciatica) is not part of the spine rating — it's rated separately under the nerve codes in 38 CFR §4.124a (e.g., the sciatic nerve), usually 10–20% or more per affected leg. So a single back injury can produce a back rating plus a left-leg rating plus a right-leg rating.
Because the legs are paired, bilateral lower-extremity radiculopathy can also trigger the bilateral factor — an extra 10% on top.
Other common secondaries
Chronic back pain often supports secondary claims for depression or anxiety (mental-health impact of chronic pain) and sleep problems. Those can carry higher ratings than the back itself.