Evaluation of the cervical spine and of the lumbar spine are similar with one major exception. In the cervical spine, an injury can cause spinal cord damage resulting in long-tract signs (weakness, numbness, or paralysis) in addition to radiculopathy of the cervical nerves. Thus, the evaluator must take into account the additional impairment due to the involvement of the lower extremities.
The first five categories are similar to those used for the lumbar spine. Category I is no objective findings and results in a rating of 0% impairment. If there are any objective findings such as true muscle spasm, dysmetria, or nonverifiable radicular symptoms, the patient is placed in Category II and receives a 5% whole-person impairment. Structural inclusions in Category II include compression fracture of less than 25%, nondisplaced laminar fractures, and displaced spinous or transverse process...
