Minnesota Rule 5223.0370
Minnesota cervical spine PPD rating
Rule 5223.0370 rates permanent cervical impairment under one category of subpart 2 (fractures), 3 (cervical pain syndrome), or 4 (radicular syndromes), with once-only add-ons under items 4.D and 4.E and fusion add-ons under subpart 5. Items 4.E(2) and 4.E(3) were rewritten for dates of injury on or after August 9, 2010, so a fusion after that date stacks with the surgery add-on instead of replacing it.
Rule text from the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, retrieved 2026-08-02.
This is my working reading of Minnesota Rule chapter 5223. I keep checking it against the official rule text and published decisions. If a category, percent, or combination looks wrong, email hello@mncompbuddy.com and say what you found. A mismatch is a reason to look again, not a reason to treat this tool or a doctor rating as automatically correct.
How the rule decides
Each group below is a set of alternatives: the facts select at most one category from each group. Add-ons attach to their base category as the rule directs and are added, not statutorily combined.
Choose one: cervical primary
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: compression fracture (item a); and Greatest loss of vertebral height, as a percent of 10 percent or less.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.A(1)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: compression fracture (item a); and Greatest loss of vertebral height, as a percent above 10 percent; and Greatest loss of vertebral height, as a percent of 25 percent or less.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.A(2)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: compression fracture (item a); and Greatest loss of vertebral height, as a percent above 25 percent; and Greatest loss of vertebral height, as a percent of 50 percent or less.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.A(3)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: compression fracture (item a); and Greatest loss of vertebral height, as a percent above 50 percent.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.A(4)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: posterior element fracture with dislocation (item b); and not: whether surgery was performed for the fracture; and Whether normal reduction was achieved.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.B(1)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: posterior element fracture with dislocation (item b); and Whether surgery was performed for the fracture; and Whether normal reduction was achieved.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.B(2)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: posterior element fracture with dislocation (item b); and not: whether surgery was performed for the fracture; and not: whether normal reduction was achieved.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.B(3)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: posterior element fracture with dislocation (item b); and Whether surgery was performed for the fracture; and not: whether normal reduction was achieved.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.B(4)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: other documented acute fracture (item c).
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.C
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: cervical spine pain syndrome (subpart 3); and not: persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings).
R. 5223.0370, subp. 3.A
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: cervical spine pain syndrome (subpart 3); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: no radiographic abnormality.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 3.B
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: cervical spine pain syndrome (subpart 3); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: radiographic abnormality not specifically addressed elsewhere (no nerve impingement); and Number of vertebral levels with the imaging abnormality is 1.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 3.C(1)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: cervical spine pain syndrome (subpart 3); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: radiographic abnormality not specifically addressed elsewhere (no nerve impingement); and Number of vertebral levels with the imaging abnormality of 2 or more.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 3.C(2)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and not: persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings).
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.A
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: no radiographic abnormality.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.B
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: radiographic abnormality not specifically addressed elsewhere (no nerve impingement); and Number of vertebral levels with the imaging abnormality is 1; and not: a surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.C(1)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: radiographic abnormality not specifically addressed elsewhere (no nerve impingement); and Number of vertebral levels with the imaging abnormality of 2 or more; and not: a surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.C(2)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: radiographic abnormality not specifically addressed elsewhere (no nerve impingement); and A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment; and Number of levels operated on (non-fusion surgery) is 1.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.C(3)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: radiographic abnormality not specifically addressed elsewhere (no nerve impingement); and A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment; and Number of levels operated on (non-fusion surgery) of 2 or more.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.C(4)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: disc bulge, protrusion, or herniation impinging a cervical nerve root, correlated with the exam.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.D
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.E
Add-ons
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2); and Type of vertebral fracture: compression fracture (item a) or posterior element fracture with dislocation (item b) or other documented acute fracture (item c); and Whether more than one vertebral level was fractured.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 2.D
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: disc bulge, protrusion, or herniation impinging a cervical nerve root, correlated with the exam; and Chronic radicular pain or paresthesia persisting despite treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.D(1)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: disc bulge, protrusion, or herniation impinging a cervical nerve root, correlated with the exam; and A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment; and not: a fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.D(2)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: disc bulge, protrusion, or herniation impinging a cervical nerve root, correlated with the exam; and A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment; and One or more additional surgeries, other than a fusion, after the first; and not: a fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.D(3)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: disc bulge, protrusion, or herniation impinging a cervical nerve root, correlated with the exam; and An additional concurrent lesion meeting the same criteria (contralateral side at the same level, or either side at another level).
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.D(4)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam; and Chronic radicular pain or paresthesia persisting despite treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.E(1)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam; and An additional concurrent lesion meeting the same criteria (contralateral side at the same level, or either side at another level).
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.E(4)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam; and A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment; and not: a fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.E(2) (dates of injury on or before 2010-08-08)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam; and A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment; and One or more additional surgeries, other than a fusion, after the first; and not: a fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.E(3) (dates of injury on or before 2010-08-08)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam; and either A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment, or A fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.E(2) (dates of injury on or after 2010-08-09)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings); and What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam; and either A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment, or A fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment; and One or more additional surgeries of any type after the first (post-2010 item 4.E(3)).
R. 5223.0370, subp. 4.E(3) (dates of injury on or after 2010-08-09)
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: cervical spine pain syndrome (subpart 3) or radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and A fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment; and Number of levels fused is 1.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 5.A
Requires: Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: cervical spine pain syndrome (subpart 3) or radicular syndrome (subpart 4); and A fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment; and Number of levels fused of 2 or more.
R. 5223.0370, subp. 5.B
What the records must show
These are the facts the rule turns on. If one is unknown, the affected categories stay open questions with the document that would settle them; an unknown never counts as a no.
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report; clinic note documenting persistent findings; MMI report; IME report
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report
Proof: operative report
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report; operative report
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report
Proof: clinic note documenting persistent findings; MMI report; IME report; EMG report
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Proof: clinic note documenting persistent findings; MMI report; IME report
Proof: MRI report; CT scan report; x-ray report; myelogram report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Worked examples with receipts
Each example runs through the same engine the calculator uses. The category total, the components, and the citations are computed, not typed in.
Single-level ACDF for correlated stenosis, injury after August 9, 2010
whole-body total
Date of injury 2015-06-01
- Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4)
- Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings): yes
- What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam
- A fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment: yes
- Number of levels fused: 1
- A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment: no
- One or more additional surgeries of any type after the first (post-2010 item 4.E(3)): no
- Chronic radicular pain or paresthesia persisting despite treatment: no
- An additional concurrent lesion meeting the same criteria (contralateral side at the same level, or either side at another level): no
- Cervical Radiculopathy E: Spinal Stenosis with Correlating Radicular or Myelopathic Findings: 17.5%
- Whole-body total: 17.5%
The same single-level ACDF with an injury before the 2010 amendment
whole-body total
Date of injury 2009-06-01
- Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4)
- Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings): yes
- What imaging shows, at its most severe: spinal stenosis impinging a cervical nerve root or the spinal cord, correlated with the exam
- A fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment: yes
- Number of levels fused: 1
- A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment: no
- One or more additional surgeries, other than a fusion, after the first: no
- Chronic radicular pain or paresthesia persisting despite treatment: no
- An additional concurrent lesion meeting the same criteria (contralateral side at the same level, or either side at another level): no
- Cervical Radiculopathy E: Spinal Stenosis with Correlating Radicular or Myelopathic Findings: 12.5%
- Whole-body total: 12.5%
Two-level compression fracture with 30 percent height loss
whole-body total
Date of injury 2024-01-01
- Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: fracture (subpart 2)
- Type of vertebral fracture: compression fracture (item a)
- Greatest loss of vertebral height, as a percent: 30
- Whether more than one vertebral level was fractured: yes
- Cervical Compression Fracture: >25-50% Height Loss: 17%
- Whole-body total: 17%
Full 4.D ladder: base plus every subitem, no fusion
whole-body total
Date of injury 2024-01-01
- Which cervical spine category family fits the condition: radicular syndrome (subpart 4)
- Persistent objective clinical findings in the cervical spine (involuntary muscle tightness, or for radicular categories, objective radicular findings): yes
- What imaging shows, at its most severe: disc bulge, protrusion, or herniation impinging a cervical nerve root, correlated with the exam
- Chronic radicular pain or paresthesia persisting despite treatment: yes
- A surgery other than a fusion was performed as part of the treatment: yes
- One or more additional surgeries, other than a fusion, after the first: yes
- An additional concurrent lesion meeting the same criteria (contralateral side at the same level, or either side at another level): yes
- A fusion was performed as part or all of the surgical treatment: no
- Cervical Radiculopathy D: Disc Herniation with Correlating Radicular Findings: 25%
- Whole-body total: 25%
Common questions
Why does the date of injury change the cervical surgery add-on?
Items 4.E(2) and 4.E(3) were rewritten effective August 9, 2010. Before that date the add-on covered only non-fusion surgery and a fusion was rated under subpart 5 instead. On or after that date the first surgery counts regardless of type and a fusion also adds the subpart 5 rating.
Is there a cervical spondylolisthesis category?
No. Unlike the lumbar rule (5223.0390, subp. 3.D), the cervical rule has no spondylolisthesis category. A cervical condition with imaging abnormality rates under 3.C or the radicular categories that fit the findings.
Interpretive notes
- Known simplification held over from the audited ppd-v2 model: the single fact medical.objectiveFindings stands in for both "persistent objective clinical findings confined to the region" (items B and C) and "objective radicular findings" (items D and E). Splitting these is an attorney-review decision; the graph flags it rather than changing audited rating behavior.
What to do next
Turn a category percent into dollars, combine multiple ratings, or see permanency inside a full settlement value.
- Minnesota PPD calculator
Turn a rating percentage into dollars using the statutory tier for your date of injury.
- PPD combination calculator
Two or more ratings combine with a formula that yields less than the sum.
- Settlement exposure calculator
See permanency next to wage loss and medical when you weigh a settlement.
- All PPD rules by body part
Browse the other Minnesota Rule 5223 categories that may apply to your claim.
- Gillette injuries in Minnesota
Wear-and-tear spine claims often involve multiple dates and cumulative trauma rules.
- Should I accept a workers comp settlement?
Permanency is one line in a settlement. Know what you are trading before you sign.
Is the insurer rating you under the right category?
Dan Swenson reads these rules for a living and built this page. Call or text with your diagnosis and the rating you were given. The call is free.
Minnesota workers' comp attorney Dan Swenson, how the fee works and what he can do. Robert Wilson & Associates, Minneapolis. Attorney advertising.