VA rates limitation of motion of the arm under Diagnostic Code 5201 (38 CFR 4.71a), and the key twist is that your dominant ("major") arm is rated higher than your non-dominant ("minor") arm at the more severe levels. Ratings run 20% to 40% based on how far you can raise the arm.
Straight talk first
Two veterans with the same shoulder can get different ratings — and that's by design. VA weighs your dominant arm more heavily because it does more of the work in daily life. So the first thing to get right is which arm is "major." After that, the rating is about range of motion: how high you can lift the arm before pain or restriction stops you. Painful and limited motion both count, so the exam has to capture them.
This is the shoulder cut of how VA rates conditions.
How the rating works (DC 5201)
The rating is based on how far the arm can be raised:
| Arm motion limited to… | Dominant (major) | Non-dominant (minor) |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder level | 20% | 20% |
| Midway between side and shoulder | 30% | 20% |
| 25° from the side | 40% | 30% |
Major vs. minor — get this right first
Your dominant arm (the one you write with) is the "major" arm; the other is "minor." At the two more severe levels, the major arm rates 10% higher. Make sure the exam and your claim correctly identify which is which — it directly changes the number.
Beyond range of motion
DC 5201 covers limitation of motion, but shoulder disabilities can also be rated under other codes for instability/dislocation, impairment of the humerus, or ankylosis (a frozen joint). And under VA's painful-motion rules, pain and flare-ups that further limit use should be reflected. The combination that best fits your findings controls the rating.
Claiming a shoulder condition
A shoulder can be claimed:
- Directly — an in-service injury, dislocation, or overuse (common in many MOSs).
- Secondarily — overuse from favoring another service-connected limb, under 38 CFR 3.310.
You'll need a current diagnosis, the in-service event or primary condition, and a nexus. See how to file your own claim, then run the result through the VA Combined Rating Calculator.
Key takeaways
- Arm limitation of motion is rated 20%–40% under DC 5201.
- The dominant (major) arm rates higher than the non-dominant at the severe levels — confirm which is which.
- Shoulders can also be rated for instability, humerus impairment, or ankylosis, and painful motion counts.
- Claim it directly or as a secondary depending on the cause.
Frequently asked questions
- How does VA rate a shoulder condition?
- Limitation of motion of the arm is rated under Diagnostic Code 5201 (38 CFR 4.71a) by how far you can raise the arm. Motion limited to shoulder level is 20%. Limited to midway between the side and shoulder is 30% (dominant arm) or 20% (non-dominant). Limited to 25 degrees from the side is 40% (dominant) or 30% (non-dominant).
- Does it matter which arm is affected?
- Yes. VA rates the dominant ('major') arm higher than the non-dominant ('minor') arm at the more severe levels, because the dominant arm matters more for daily function. Which hand you write with determines major vs. minor.
- Is the shoulder rated only on range of motion?
- DC 5201 is the limitation-of-motion code, but shoulder disabilities can also be rated under other codes for things like instability, impairment of the humerus, or ankylosis. Painful motion and flare-ups should be accounted for too. The code and findings that best fit your condition control the rating.
- Can a shoulder be a secondary condition?
- It can. A shoulder problem can be claimed directly (an in-service injury or overuse) or as a secondary — for example, overuse from favoring another service-connected limb, under 38 CFR 3.310. The cause decides the lane.
Sources
- 38 CFR 4.71a — schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (DC 5201, arm): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.71a
- 38 CFR 4.40 / 4.45 / 4.59 — functional loss and painful motion: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.59
- 38 CFR 3.310 — secondary service connection: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/subpart-A/section-3.310
- VA — How VA decides service connection: https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/
