VA Rating for Shoulder and Arm Conditions

By the VetClaimsGuide Editorial Team · Educational guide · Updated September 2026

Shoulder and arm injuries are among the most claimed conditions in the VA system, and for good reason. Years of rucking, lifting, overhead work, and physical training take a toll. The rating comes down to one main question: how high can you raise your arm? Here is how that works, plus the dominant arm rule a lot of veterans never hear about.

How VA rates shoulder and arm conditions

Most shoulder and arm conditions fall under 38 CFR 4.71a, Diagnostic Codes 5200 through 5203. The one that applies to the majority of claims is DC 5201, limitation of motion of the arm, which is measured by how far you can lift your arm out to the side (abduction) or forward (flexion). Ratings are listed below as major arm / minor arm:

• 20 percent / 20 percent: motion limited to shoulder level, meaning flexion or abduction limited to 90 degrees.
• 30 percent / 20 percent: motion limited to midway between your side and shoulder level, meaning about 45 degrees.
• 40 percent / 30 percent: motion limited to 25 degrees from your side.

VA clarified those degree thresholds in a 2021 amendment, so shoulder level now clearly means 90 degrees and midway means 45 degrees. Notice that at the shoulder level tier, both arms rate the same at 20 percent. The dominant arm advantage only kicks in at the more severe levels. Run your numbers with the free VA Rating Estimator.

The dominant arm rule

VA rates your dominant arm (called the major extremity) higher than your non-dominant arm for the same level of impairment, usually by about 10 percentage points. The logic is that losing function in the arm you write and work with affects your life more. This sounds obvious, but it matters practically: make sure the examiner correctly records which hand you are dominant with. If a right-handed veteran gets recorded as left-hand dominant with a right shoulder injury, that mistake alone can cost 10 percent.

Who this helps

Veterans with rotator cuff tears, shoulder impingement, dislocations or separations, tendonitis, bursitis, labral tears, or arthritis in the shoulder. Veterans who had shoulder surgery in or after service. Anyone heading into a C&P exam for a shoulder claim who wants to know what the examiner is actually measuring.

The other shoulder diagnostic codes

Not every shoulder problem is a simple range-of-motion case. Three other codes cover more specific situations, again listed as major arm / minor arm:

• DC 5200, ankylosis of the shoulder joint (the joint fused or frozen in place): 30/20 percent for favorable ankylosis, 40/30 percent for intermediate, and 50/40 percent for unfavorable ankylosis with abduction limited to 25 degrees from the side.
• DC 5202, impairment of the humerus: this covers recurrent dislocation, malunion, nonunion, and loss of the head of the humerus. Ratings range from 20/20 percent for moderate deformity or infrequent dislocations up to 80/70 percent for a flail shoulder.
• DC 5203, impairment of the clavicle or scapula: 10/10 percent for malunion or nonunion without loose movement, and 20/20 percent for nonunion with loose movement or dislocation.

If a shoulder or arm condition also involves muscle damage, VA may rate it under the muscle injury schedule at 38 CFR 4.73 instead, which uses slight, moderate, moderately severe, and severe as its levels.

Shoulder replacements and surgery

A total shoulder replacement is rated under DC 5051 and starts with a temporary 100 percent rating for a period following the surgery. Once that period ends, the condition is re-evaluated, and the minimum rating is 30 percent for the dominant arm and 20 percent for the non-dominant arm. If there is weakness plus severe pain with motion, the rating can be 60 percent for the dominant arm or 50 percent for the non-dominant arm.

Even for surgeries short of a full replacement, such as a rotator cuff repair, veterans may be eligible for a temporary total rating based on convalescence, which pays at 100 percent while you recover. This is easy to overlook, so it is worth asking an accredited representative about if you had surgery on a service-connected shoulder.

The evidence VA looks for

• A current diagnosis and any imaging such as an X-ray or MRI showing the condition.
• Range-of-motion measurements taken at a C&P exam with a goniometer, ideally reflecting a typical bad day rather than your best day.
• Documentation of flare-ups, pain on repeated use, and how the shoulder limits work and daily activities like reaching overhead or lifting.
• A nexus connecting the condition to an in-service injury or to the cumulative physical demands of your job in service.

Organize all of this with the free Condition Evidence Builder.

Common mistakes and misunderstandings

• Letting the wrong dominant hand get recorded. Check that the exam report has it right, because it can be worth 10 percent.
• Pushing through the exam. If you grit your teeth and raise your arm higher than you comfortably can, the measured range of motion will understate your real limits.
• Not mentioning flare-ups or repeated use. VA is supposed to consider how the shoulder behaves after repetitive motion, not just the first attempt.
• Missing a temporary total rating after surgery. Convalescence ratings exist and are frequently left unclaimed.
• Forgetting scars from shoulder surgery. Surgical scars from a service-connected condition can sometimes be separately rated. See VA Rating for Scars.

Related reading: VA Rating for Scars, What to Expect at Your C&P Exam, How VA Disability Ratings Work.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• VA Rating for Back Pain: How It Works
• VA Rating for Knee Pain: How It Works
• VA Rating for Scars: How It Works
• VA Rating for Sciatica (Radiculopathy): How It Works

VetClaimsGuide is an independent educational platform and self-help resource. It is not a law firm, not a VSO, not VA-accredited representation, and is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. It does not file or prepare claims for veterans, represent veterans, or provide legal or medical advice, and it does not diagnose conditions or guarantee any rating, payment, or outcome. It helps veterans organize information, understand possible evidence gaps, and prepare questions to discuss with a VSO, accredited representative, attorney, or medical provider. Confirm everything at VA.gov or with an accredited professional.