(1) No objective clinical findings. Subjective complaints and/or sensory losses may be present or absent.

(2) Mild low back impairment, with mild intermittent objective clinical findings of such impairment but no significant X-ray findings and no significant objective motor loss. Subjective complaints and/or sensory losses may be present.

(3) Mild low back impairment, with mild continuous or moderate intermittent objective clinical findings of such impairment but without significant X-ray findings or significant objective motor loss.

This and subsequent categories include: The presence or absence of reflex and/or sensory losses; the presence or absence of pain locally and/or radiating into an extremity or extremities; the presence or absence of a laminectomy or discectomy with normally expected residuals.

(4) Mild low back impairment, with mild continuous or moderate intermittent objective clinical findings of such impairment, with mild but significant X-ray findings and with mild but significant motor loss objectively demonstrated by atrophy and weakness of a specific muscle or muscle group.

This and subsequent categories include the presence or absence of a surgical fusion with normally expected residuals.

(5) Moderate low back impairment, with moderate continuous or marked intermittent objective clinical findings of such impairment, with moderate X-ray findings and with mild but significant motor loss objectively demonstrated by atrophy and weakness of a specific muscle or muscle group.

(6) Marked low back impairment, with marked intermittent objective clinical findings of such impairment, with moderate or marked X-ray findings and with moderate motor loss objectively demonstrated by atrophy and weakness of a specific muscle or muscle group.

(7) Marked low back impairment, with marked continuous objective clinical findings of such impairment, with marked X-ray findings and with marked motor loss objectively demonstrated by marked atrophy and weakness of a specific muscle or muscle group.

(8) Essentially total loss of low back functions, with marked X-ray findings and with marked motor loss objectively demonstrated by marked atrophy and weakness of a muscle group or groups.