Marching long distances with a heavy pack and heavy equipment for years in the military can take its toll on veterans and lead to chronic back pain. Chronic back pain can be debilitating and is a common disability claim for military veterans. Veterans who suffer with back pain may be asking — what is the VA disability rating for chronic back pain — and we may be able to help answer your questions at VA Benefits Attorneys.

How Does the VA Rate Chronic Back Pain? 

Service-connected back injuries and medical conditions like cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and sciatica are among the most common VA disability claims for veterans and chronic pain can make day-to-day activities like work or playing with your children painful.

When veterans apply for disability benefits due to chronic back pain, the VA disability rating can range from 10% to 100% with intervals at 10%, 20%, 40%, 50%, and 100% based on the diagnosis and severity of the injury. Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is available with severe disability. The veteran’s disability rating can depend on multiple factors — the level of pain, range of motion, muscle spasms, guarding, whether or not the condition is incapacitating, and any additional symptoms that may impact day-to-day life. A key term for chronic back pain disability ratings is ankylosis — which is defined as stiffness or immobility of a joint as a result of injury or disease where the joints have fused.

Here is a breakdown of how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs rates chronic back pain for veterans:

Guide to VA Disability Ratings for Back Pain

• 10% Rating — This disability rating is characterized by reduced range of motion with forward flexion of 60° to 85°, moderate muscle spasms, guarding that results in an abnormal gait, and localized muscle tenderness.
• 20% Rating — A 20% disability rating for chronic back pain means that the veteran has reduced range of motion with forward flexion of 30° to 60° and more severe and regular muscle spasms that result in an abnormal gait.
• 40% Rating — This rating is highlighted by a very limited range of motion with forward flexion of less than 30°, favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine or unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. 
• 50% Rating — A 50% disability rating for back pain is characterized primarily by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.
• 100% Rating — Veterans who receive a 100% disability rating for lower back pain will be diagnosed with unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine and zero range of motion. 

READ MORE: Top 5 VA Disability Claims Trends in 2025

Veterans that deal with service-connected back pain in their day-to-day lives may be asking — what are the VA disability ratings for chronic back pain? We hope that this overview has helped answer your questions about chronic back pain disability ratings.

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