M47.812: Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, cervical region
Region: Cervical
By Dr. Daniel Turner, DC · Reviewed September 2, 2026
What does M47.812 mean?
M47.812 is the ICD-10-CM code for cervical spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy: degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, documented on imaging, without nerve root or cord involvement.
Searched as cervical spondylosis ICD 10, neck arthritis diagnosis code, and cervical degenerative joint disease code.
When does a chiropractor use M47.812?
The code for the X-ray finding half of adult neck pain patients carry. It legitimately describes degenerative change driving a chronic or recurrent presentation, and it belongs on the claim when imaging supports it. What it cannot do is carry an active treatment claim forever: degeneration is permanent, so payers read a long M47.812 only care plan as maintenance. Pair it with the symptom code for the current flare to show why care is active now.
Coding rules that matter
- ✓The M47.81 family codes spondylosis without neurologic involvement by region; cervical is M47.812, thoracic M47.814, lumbar M47.816
- ✓If radiculopathy is present with the spondylosis, the M47.2 family captures both and replaces this code
- ✓Requires imaging in the chart to be defensible; spondylosis is a radiographic diagnosis
The codes around M47.812
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| M47.811 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial |
| M47.812 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, cervical (this code) |
| M47.813 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, cervicothoracic |
| M47.814 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, thoracic |
| M47.816 | Spondylosis without myelopathy, lumbar |
| M47.22 | Spondylosis with radiculopathy, cervical |
When M47.812 is the wrong code
Not for spondylosis with nerve involvement, which is the M47.2 family. Not for disc degeneration, which lives in M50.3 for the cervical spine. And never without imaging on file, because spondylosis is a radiographic diagnosis and a reviewer will ask to see the film.
How does M47.812 work on Medicare chiropractic claims?
Rides as a secondary diagnosis behind the regional M99 subluxation code. Because degeneration reads as chronic, the documentation must make the active treatment case: a flare, a functional loss, and measurable goals, or the claim drifts into the maintenance denial pattern under CO-50.
Where claims go wrong
Using it as the lone diagnosis on long care plans; coding it without imaging on file; letting it justify indefinite visit frequency.
How Cervica helps with M47.812
Cervica validates diagnosis pointers line by line before a claim goes out, checks the Medicare subluxation pairing and region agreement automatically, and carries diagnoses forward from the SOAP note so the claim always matches what the documentation actually says.
Related codes
Quick answers
What does M47.812 mean?
M47.812 is the ICD-10-CM code for cervical spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy: degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, documented on imaging, without nerve root or cord involvement.
When does a chiropractor use M47.812?
The code for the X-ray finding half of adult neck pain patients carry. It legitimately describes degenerative change driving a chronic or recurrent presentation, and it belongs on the claim when imaging supports it. What it cannot do is carry an active treatment claim forever: degeneration is permanent, so payers read a long M47.812 only care plan as maintenance. Pair it with the symptom code for the current flare to show why care is active now.
How does M47.812 work on Medicare chiropractic claims?
Rides as a secondary diagnosis behind the regional M99 subluxation code. Because degeneration reads as chronic, the documentation must make the active treatment case: a flare, a functional loss, and measurable goals, or the claim drifts into the maintenance denial pattern under CO-50.
References
General information for billing teams, not medical, legal, or coding advice for any individual claim. ICD-10-CM is maintained by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics; the official code set and guidelines control. Payer policies vary.