Herniated Disc — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Herniated Disc
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960M-14 (Back (Thoracolumbar Spine) Conditions) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Herniated Disc — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Herniated Disc, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Herniated Disc
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.71a, Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (DC 5243). Rated on the General Rating Formula for the Spine or on incapacitating episodes, whichever gives the higher evaluation. An incapacitating episode requires physician-prescribed bed rest. Radiculopathy is rated separately under 4.124a.. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 60 but not greater than 85 degrees; or muscle spasm, guarding, or localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour; or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 1 week but less than 2 weeks in the past 12 months.
Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 but not greater than 60 degrees; or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to cause an abnormal gait or spinal contour; or incapacitating episodes of at least 2 but less than 4 weeks in the past 12 months.
Forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less; or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine; or incapacitating episodes of at least 4 but less than 6 weeks in the past 12 months.
Incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.
Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Herniated Disc raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Herniated Disc claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 2017 · PMID 28052435
Finding: In active-duty male US Marines studied with upright MRI under body-armor loading, low back pain prevalence was 70% higher in the armed forces than in the general population; 77% of the Marines had intervertebral disc degeneration and 72% had a history of low back pain, with those changes linked to reduced lumbar range of motion.
Why it helps: Supports an association between military operational loading (body armor, sustained operational postures) and lumbar disc degeneration/back pain, helping connect a herniated disc to the physical demands of service.
Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 2018 · PMID 29673429
Finding: Using the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (2006-2015), military rotary-wing pilots had a 1.22-fold higher incidence of lumbar disc herniation than matched non-pilot controls (1218 cases over 141,383 person-years), and 17-year data showed a 2.6-fold rise in incidence among helicopter pilots since 1997.
Why it helps: Supports an association between a specific military occupational exposure (rotary-wing flight and its vibration/posture demands) and lumbar disc herniation in active-duty service members.
Military Medical Research, 2020 · PMID 33349256
Finding: MRI of soldiers before and after load-carriage training showed significant intervertebral disc compression (total lumbar disc measures decreased, P<0.05) and reduced effective intervertebral foraminal area at L3/4 (91.6% to 88.1%, P<0.05); a prediction model indicated loads under 60% of body weight avoided acute pathological injury.
Why it helps: Supports a biomechanical link between military load carriage (rucking) and acute lumbar disc compression/foraminal narrowing, mechanisms relevant to herniated disc claims tied to field duties.
Spine, 2021 · PMID 33181775
Finding: Among 84,985 Military Health System beneficiaries (62,771 active duty) diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation over FY2011-2018, 12.4% (10.9% of active duty) progressed to surgery; tobacco use, younger age, and male sex were independently associated with higher surgical risk, while about 88% succeeded with conservative care.
Why it helps: Documents the large burden of lumbar disc herniation within the active-duty military population and its impact on readiness, supporting that this is a recognized service-connected musculoskeletal condition.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 2025 · PMID 40996296
Finding: In a 33-year prospective cohort of 262,850 male workers (2451 surgical lumbar disc herniation cases), frequent lifting over 25 kg raised risk (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.06-2.94), as did extreme lumbar flexion/extension (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.37-1.88) and high whole-body vibration (RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.05-1.65).
Why it helps: Supports an association between heavy lifting, awkward back postures, and whole-body vibration and surgically treated disc herniation, exposures that parallel many military duties (lifting gear, vehicle vibration, non-neutral postures).
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2018 · PMID 29855719
Finding: In a cohort of 288,926 workers, those exposed to medium-to-high whole-body vibration had a 1.35-fold higher risk (95% CI 1.12-1.63) of hospitalization for lumbar disc herniation versus white-collar referents; among workers aged 30-49 the risk rose to 1.69 (95% CI 1.29-2.21), adjusted for age, height, weight, and smoking.
Why it helps: Supports an association between whole-body vibration exposure and disc herniation, relevant to service members who operate or ride in tracked vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft.
Neurosurgical Review, 2023 · nexus to diabetes, obesity · PMID 37392260
Finding: A meta-analysis of 58 cohort studies found recurrent lumbar disc herniation was significantly associated with diabetes (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.14-2.31) and obesity (BMI >=25; OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.11-2.47), along with smoking, advanced age, and manual labor.
Why it helps: Supports a secondary-service-connection theory in which a service-connected metabolic condition (diabetes) or service-connected weight gain/obesity contributes to the development or recurrence of a herniated disc.
International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2022 · nexus to depression · PMID 33840233
Finding: In a propensity-matched national insurance cohort of 41,874 patients with herniated intervertebral disc, prior disc herniation was associated with markedly higher risk of subsequently developing major depressive disorder (adjusted hazard ratio 8.47, 95% CI 6.84-10.49, P<0.0001).
Why it helps: Supports a secondary mental-health nexus in which a service-connected herniated disc and its chronic pain contribute to depression, a condition veterans commonly claim as secondary to a painful spine disability.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Herniated Disc
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Herniated Disc. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
Radiculopathy
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Sciatica
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Spinal Stenosis
Nexus strength: moderate
Erectile Dysfunction
Nexus strength: moderate
Major Depressive Disorder
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Chronic Insomnia
Nexus strength: moderate· Commonly granted
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Filing a Herniated Discclaim? Don't skip these.
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Draft your Herniated Disc personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Herniated Disc.
Herniated Disc Claim Guide by State
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.