EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Rotator Cuff Injury VA Disability Rating
DC 5201 | 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a | M21-1, Part IV.ii.2
OVERVIEW
Rotator cuff injuries are rated under Diagnostic Code 5201 (limitation of arm motion) at 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a. Ratings differ between the dominant (major) and non-dominant (minor) arm. Rotator cuff tears, tendinopathy, and impingement are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in veterans, especially those in combat arms, aviation maintenance, and any MOS requiring overhead lifting.
RATING CRITERIA (3 LEVELS)
40%/30% — Motion limited to 25 degrees from side (major/minor)
Arm motion limited to 25 degrees from the side.
30%/20% — Motion limited midway between side and shoulder (major/minor)
Arm motion limited to midway between the side and shoulder level (approximately 45-90 degrees).
20% — Motion limited at shoulder level
Arm motion limited at shoulder level (90 degrees). Same rating for major and minor.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-MRI showing rotator cuff tear (partial or full thickness), tendinopathy, or impingement
-Service records showing shoulder injury or repetitive overhead work
-Surgical records if rotator cuff repair was performed
-Range of motion measurements (flexion, abduction, internal/external rotation)
-Documentation of flare-ups and functional loss per DeLuca and Sharp
SECONDARY CONDITIONS (4 MAPPED)
DC 5237-5243
Compensatory posture changes from shoulder guarding cause cervical spine strain and degeneration.
DC 8510
Cervical pathology secondary to shoulder condition can cause upper extremity radiculopathy.
DC 9434
Chronic shoulder pain and functional limitation causing depressive disorder.
DC 5201
Compensatory overuse of the non-injured shoulder accelerates degeneration.
C&P EXAM TIPS (5)
1.Note which is your dominant arm — ratings are higher for the major extremity.
2.Do NOT warm up, stretch, or take pain medication before the exam.
3.Describe overhead reaching limitations: unable to reach shelves, put on shirts, wash hair.
4.Per DeLuca, describe pain on motion and additional limitation during flare-ups.
5.If you had surgery, bring operative reports — post-surgical ROM limitations are often more severe.
RELEVANT CASE LAW
DeLuca v. Brown (1995)
VA must consider functional loss due to pain, weakness, fatigability, and incoordination when rating musculoskeletal disabilities.
DOLLAR IMPACT
Dominant shoulder at 30% ($552/mo) plus cervical spine secondary (20%, $345/mo) and upper extremity radiculopathy (20-30%) can push combined ratings above 60%.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026