Rotator Cuff Tear & Shoulder Impingement VA Rating

Overview

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) that stabilize the shoulder. Tears, tendinopathy, and impingement are common in veterans who carried heavy loads, performed overhead work, or sustained repetitive shoulder trauma in service.

VA does not have a dedicated diagnostic code for 'rotator cuff syndrome.' It is rated by analogy to the closest listed code — most commonly DC 5201 (limitation of motion of the arm), often combined with DC 5024 (tenosynovitis) which directs rating under the limitation-of-motion code for the affected joint.

Dominant arm matters. VA presumes right-hand dominance unless the veteran establishes otherwise. The dominant-arm tables award higher percentages at the same range-of-motion thresholds than the non-dominant tables.

In Depth

Rotator cuff pathology is evaluated through the shoulder and arm codes in 38 CFR § 4.71a rather than a code named for the tear itself. DC 5201 addresses limitation of arm motion by reference to shoulder level, midway between side and shoulder level, and 25 degrees from the side. DC 5200 covers ankylosis of the scapulohumeral articulation, DC 5202 other impairment of the humerus including recurrent dislocation, and DC 5203 impairment of the clavicle or scapula.

Effective February 7, 2021, VA revised the shoulder codes, including expressing limitation of motion in DC 5201 in measured degrees. The percentage tiers differ for the major (dominant) and minor (non-dominant) arm across these codes.

Where arthritis and limitation of motion arise from the same shoulder joint, 38 CFR § 4.14 generally prevents separate evaluations for the same manifestation. Separate codes addressing distinct pathology — for example clavicular impairment under DC 5203 alongside limitation of motion — may be evaluated independently where the findings are genuinely distinct.

How to Establish Service Connection

• Direct: documented in-service shoulder injury, repetitive overhead duty, or load-bearing MOS (infantry, mechanic, parachutist, artillery).
• Secondary: cervical radiculopathy, contralateral overuse from a service-connected upper-extremity disability, or post-operative scarring.
• Aggravation: pre-existing shoulder condition documented as worsening beyond natural progression during service.

Rating Criteria

Paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Codes 5201 / 5202 / 5203 / 5024

See what each percentage pays in 2026 and how it combines with your current rating →

Evidence Checklist

• Shoulder MRI documenting tear, impingement, labral injury, or tendinopathy.
• Goniometer-measured range-of-motion testing reflecting the functional (painful) limit, not maximum forced motion.
• Operative reports for any rotator cuff repair, decompression, or labral repair.
• Physical therapy notes documenting ROM over time, strength testing, and functional limits.
• Statement establishing dominant arm, corroborated where possible by buddy statements or medical records.
• Documentation of flare frequency and additional ROM loss during flares (Sharp v. Shulkin).

Evidence Templates

Common formats of evidence the VA looks for in this type of claim. These describe what the documents typically include — they are not legal forms or medical opinions, and Oakridge Claims does not draft them.

Evidence VA Commonly Cites in These Claims

Descriptive summary of evidence types frequently referenced in rating decisions for this condition. Not a checklist of actions to take — every claim is decided on its own facts.

• ★Measured forward flexion and abduction in degrees for the affected shoulder are what DC 5201's thresholds are written in.
• ★Imaging identifying the tear, along with any operative report, establishes the underlying pathology the code is assigned for.
• ★Recurrent dislocation findings and their frequency are what DC 5202 addresses.
• ★Correia v. McDonald addresses examination testing in active and passive motion where applicable.

Common pitfalls VA sees

• Expecting a diagnostic code named 'rotator cuff tear' — the schedule evaluates the resulting limitation of function.
• Not documenting arm dominance when the tiers differ for the major and minor arm.
• Assuming surgery produces an automatic minimum evaluation, which the shoulder codes do not provide in the way the joint-replacement codes do.

Common Secondary Conditions

Conditions frequently service-connected as secondary to Rotator Cuff Tear & Shoulder Impingement:

What the C&P Exam Documents

General information about how this condition is typically evaluated. This is not coaching on what to say and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice.

• →Bring a list of motions that trigger pain and approximate angles you can reach before pain starts.
• →Ask the examiner to record motion at the point pain begins (functional limit), not the maximum you can push through.
• →If you have flare-ups, describe frequency, duration, and additional ROM loss during a flare.

Frequently Asked Questions