Years of carrying weight take a toll on the spine, and the mid-back cops its share. Thoracic spondylosis, the wear-and-tear arthritis of the thoracic spine, is a common service-related condition, and when it is accepted, your compensation comes down to impairment points.
This guide explains what thoracic spondylosis is, why it is common in veterans, how it is claimed, and how those impairment points actually work. For the related conditions, see lumbar spondylosis and cervical spondylosis, and the DVA medical conditions hub.
Article at a glance
- Thoracic spondylosis is degeneration of the mid-back spine, a recognised, claimable condition.
- Load-bearing service is the usual culprit, packs, body armour, lifting and vibration.
- Compensation is based on impairment points, which reflect how much it affects you.
- It often travels with lumbar and cervical spondylosis, and the whole spine can be assessed.
What thoracic spondylosis is
Thoracic spondylosis is degenerative change, essentially wear-and-tear arthritis, in the thoracic spine, the section that runs through your mid-back. Over time the discs and joints there break down, which brings on stiffness, mid-back pain and reduced movement, and sometimes referred pain around the ribs. It is the mid-back cousin of lumbar spondylosis (lower back) and cervical spondylosis (neck), and many veterans have wear across more than one section of the spine at once.
Why it’s common in veterans
Service is hard on the spine. Years of carrying heavy packs, webbing and body armour, repetitive lifting, working in awkward positions, and the jarring of vehicles and aircraft all load the thoracic spine and speed up the wear. That is why degenerative spinal conditions are among the most common claims veterans make, and why they often appear across the lower back, mid-back and neck together.
How it’s claimed
A thoracic spondylosis claim is assessed against the relevant Statement of Principles, which sets out how the condition can be connected to your service. You will generally need a clear diagnosis supported by imaging, such as X-rays or scans showing the degenerative changes, along with the history of the service factors that contributed. Once liability is accepted, the focus shifts to how much the condition impairs you, and that is where points come in.
How impairment points work
DVA does not pay a set amount for a condition. Instead, a medical assessment gives your condition a number of impairment points based on how severe it is, the loss of movement, the pain, any nerve involvement, and the treatment you need. The more the condition affects you, the higher the points. Those points, combined with a rating for how it affects your lifestyle, determine your compensation.
If you have wear in more than one part of your spine, do not claim just one. Thoracic spondylosis often sits alongside lumbar and cervical spondylosis, and the combined effect of multiple conditions is part of the assessment. Claiming the mid-back on its own, when your lower back and neck are also affected, can leave you under-assessed. For more on how points are scored, see our DVA impairment points table.
Getting treatment
Once accepted, treatment is covered through your Veteran Card, including your GP, specialists, physiotherapy and pain management. As with any condition, you do not need to wait for a claim to be finalised before getting help, and a documented history of your symptoms and treatment supports the claim as well as your health.
Frequently asked questions
What are impairment points?
They’re the score a medical assessment gives your condition based on its severity, the loss of movement, pain, nerve involvement and treatment needs. Points, together with a lifestyle rating, are what your compensation is worked out from. There’s no fixed dollar figure for a condition.
Can I claim it together with my lower back or neck?
Yes, and often you should. Degenerative wear frequently affects the lower back, mid-back and neck together, and the combined impact is part of the assessment. Claiming each affected part rather than just one helps make sure you’re not under-assessed.
What evidence do I need?
A clear diagnosis backed by imaging that shows the degenerative changes, plus a history of the service factors that contributed, the load-bearing, lifting and strain. A full account of how it limits your movement and daily life supports the impairment assessment.
Make sure your spine is fully assessed
Spinal claims are easy to under-assess, especially when more than one part is affected. Our expert team can make sure your thoracic spondylosis, and any related conditions, are properly claimed and properly scored.
Related from KSC Law
- Lumbar spondylosis claims
- Cervical spondylosis claims
- DVA impairment points table
- DVA medical conditions hub