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Neck Strain (Cervicalgia) VA Disability Rating is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 5237 of 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a across 5 severity tiers (100% -- Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine / 40% -- Unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine / 30% -- Forward flexion 15 degrees or less / 20% -- Forward flexion 16-30 degrees / 10% -- Forward flexion 31-40 degrees). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
Neck strain (cervicalgia) is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine using cervical ROM thresholds. Normal cervical forward flexion is 0-45 degrees.
Neck Strain (Cervicalgia) (DC 5237) is evaluated under 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a using the cervical spine rating framework. Because it is rated by analogy to the general schedule, the 5 levels below describe the body-system criteria the VA applies — the percentage assigned to Neck Strain (Cervicalgia) depends on the specific findings (range of motion, frequency, severity, or functional loss) documented at the C&P exam and in the medical record.
Rating criteria reference 38 C.F.R. Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities). This entry has not yet undergone editorial review against the live regulation text — consult the authoritative source directly before relying on the criteria shown.