Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint)
The VA rates Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint) under Diagnostic Code 5200, with separate ratings for the dominant and non-dominant arm: 30% to 50% for the dominant arm and 20% to 40% for the non-dominant arm. The applicable level depends on the full criteria below and the evidence for the condition.
Catalog name: Scapulohumeral articulation, ankylosis of.
Rating schedule · DC 5200 at a glance
- Dominant arm
- 30% to 50%
- Non-dominant arm
- 20% to 40%
- CFR section
- § 4.71a
- Body system
- Musculoskeletal System
- Secondary conditions
- 0
Major column of the published table
Minor column of the published table
Where this code is published
None mapped
What are the VA rating criteria for Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint)?
DC 5200 is rated separately for your dominant arm and your non-dominant arm. 38 CFR § 4.69 decides which arm is dominant.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.71a, eCFR as of .
Other notes printed in this table
These notes appear in the same table in 38 CFR, and their text does not name DC 5200.
- Note: The scapula and humerus move as one piece.
What other musculoskeletal conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint) in 38 CFR Part 4. The rating schedule is ordered anatomically, so neighbouring codes usually cover the same joint, organ, or system, and a claim often involves more than one of them.
- 5156Little finger, amputation of
- 5170Toes, all, amputation of, without metatarsal loss or transmetatarsal, amputation of, with up to half of metatarsal loss
- 5171Toe, great, amputation of
- 5172Toes, other than great, amputation of, with removal of metatarsal head
- 5173Toes, three or four, amputation of, without metatarsal involvement
- 5201Arm, limitation of motion of
- 5202Humerus, other impairment of
- 5203Clavicle or scapula, impairment of
- 5205Elbow, ankylosis of
- 5206Forearm, limitation of flexion of
What to do with a Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint) rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
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- The VA C&P Exam Explained: Before, During, and AfterA VA C&P exam helps VA decide service connection and your rating. Here is what happens before, during, and after, plus how to request your exam report.
- VA Service Connection Evidence 101: The Three-Legged StoolFor an original claim tied to active-duty service, VA needs a current disability, an in-service event, and a link between them. Here is what each part takes.
- VA Math Explained: How Combined Disability Ratings Really WorkVA ratings do not add. Learn how 38 CFR 4.25 combines disabilities using whole-person efficiency, why 50 and 30 round to 70, and how the bilateral factor works.
Common Questions About Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint) VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint)?
Dominant arm: 30% to 50%; non-dominant arm: 20% to 40%, under DC 5200, 38 CFR § 4.71a. The applicable column depends on which arm is dominant under 38 CFR § 4.69.
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint)?
The VA rates Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint) under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5200, published in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
What is the difference between a 30% and a 50% dominant-arm rating for Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint)?
These figures are the dominant-arm column of DC 5200. A 30% dominant-arm rating is published for: Favorable, abduction to 60°, can reach mouth and head. A 50% dominant-arm rating is published for: Unfavorable, abduction limited to 25° from side. The non-dominant arm is rated on its own column, 20% to 40%.
Can Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint) qualify for TDIU?
Using the dominant-arm maximum: DC 5200 publishes up to 50% for the dominant arm and up to 40% for the non-dominant arm. That alone does not meet the single-disability TDIU threshold of 60%. With other service-connected disabilities combining to 70% or more, one of them at 40% or more, TDIU under 38 CFR § 4.16(a) may apply, and extraschedular TDIU under § 4.16(b) is available if the condition alone prevents work regardless of rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint)?
The key evidence for Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint) is documentation of how the condition affects daily functioning. For musculoskeletal conditions, range of motion measurements (active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing per Correia v. McDonald) and flare-up documentation are critical. A nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking the current severity to service is essential for contested claims.
What happens at the C&P exam for Shoulder ankylosis (fixed joint)?
The C&P examiner uses a Musculoskeletal System DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 5200 rating criteria. Expect range of motion testing in multiple positions. Under Correia v. McDonald, the examiner must test active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing range of motion. Report your worst flare-up symptoms. If you cannot attend during a flare, request the exam be rescheduled.
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