Chapter 19 Back Disabilities

19.01 - Back Disabilities - General Instructions

1. Disabilities of the back (spine) shall be assessed in accordance with the tables to the following articles:
   1. 19.02 - Cervical Spine
   2. 19.03 - Dorsal Spine
   3. 19.04 - Lumbar Spine
2. When a disability of the spine is due to a pensioned systemic disease, all manifestations of the pensioned condition, e. g. - rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, Reiter's disease, shall be taken into account when determining the assessment.
3. When entitlement is held for disabilities of two or more areas of the spine, the disability in each of these areas shall be considered separately before determining the assessment.
4. Entitlement for either disc disease or osteoarthritis is normally assumed to include entitlement for the other of these conditions if located in the same area of the spine, whether cervical, dorsal or lumbar.
5. Disability in the 7th cervical - 1st dorsal area shall be assessed as cervical.
6. Disability in the 12th dorsal - 1st lumbar area shall be assessed as lumbar.
7. Disability in the 5th lumbar - 1st sacral area shall be assessed as lumbar.
8. The effects of non- pensioned conditions must be excluded.
9. Factors to be taken into consideration in assessing the disability include the symptoms and physical signs of disease resulting from the pensioned condition from time to time, the treatment required and other normal activities.

19.02 - Cervical Spine

The Tables to Article 19.02 are provided as a guide only as the various factors overlap and all elements must be taken into consideration in determining the assessment of disabilities of the cervical spine.

19.03 - Dorsal Spine

The dorsal spine has less mobility when compared to either the cervical or lumbar spines. Disability in the dorsal spine represents a significantly lesser disability than had the condition involved the cervical or lumbar spine.

Assessments generally fall in the range of Nil to 10%. Very rarely if ever should a dorsal spine disability be assessed at over 10%.

19.04 - Lumbar Spine

The tables to Article 19.04 are provided as a guide only as the various factors overlap and all elements must be taken into consideration in determining the assessment of disabilities of the lumbar spine.