Shoulder replacement
The VA rates Shoulder replacement under Diagnostic Code 5051, with separate ratings for the dominant and non-dominant arm: 30% to 100% for the dominant arm and 20% to 100% for the non-dominant arm. The applicable level depends on the full criteria below and the evidence for the condition. There is 1 documented secondary condition linked to Shoulder replacement.
Catalog name: Shoulder replacement (prosthesis)..
Rating schedule · DC 5051 at a glance
- Dominant arm
- 30% to 100%
- Non-dominant arm
- 20% to 100%
- CFR section
- § 4.71a
- Body system
- Musculoskeletal System
- Secondary conditions
- 1
Major column of the published table
Minor column of the published table
Where this code is published
Mapped in our database
What are the VA rating criteria for Shoulder replacement?
DC 5051 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 .
Notes for DC 5051
- Note (1): When an evaluation is assigned for joint resurfacing or the prosthetic replacement of a joint under diagnostic codes 5051-5056, an additional rating under § 4.71a may not also be assigned for that joint, unless otherwise directed.
- Note (2): Only evaluate a revision procedure in the same manner as the original procedure under diagnostic codes 5051-5056 if all the original components are replaced.
- Note (3): The term “prosthetic replacement” in diagnostic codes 5051-5053 and 5055-5056 means a total replacement of the named joint. However, in DC 5054, “prosthetic replacement” means a total replacement of the head of the femur or of the acetabulum.
Other notes printed in this table
These notes appear in the same table in 38 CFR, and their text does not name DC 5051.
- Note (4): The 100 percent rating for 1 year following implantation of prosthesis will commence after initial grant of the 1-month total rating assigned under § 4.30 following hospital discharge.
- Note (5): The 100 percent rating for 4 months following implantation of prosthesis or resurfacing under DCs 5054 and 5055 will commence after initial grant of the 1-month total rating assigned under § 4.30 following hospital discharge.
- Note (6): Special monthly compensation is assignable during the 100 percent rating period the earliest date permanent use of crutches is established.
Which conditions are commonly secondary to Shoulder replacement?
View 1 secondary condition linked to Shoulder replacement
Medical rationale, evidence strength, and filing tips, rated under 38 CFR § 3.310
What other musculoskeletal conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Shoulder replacement 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.
- 5003Degenerative arthritis, other than post-traumatic
- 5009Other specified forms of arthropathy (excluding gout)
- 5010Arthritis due to Trauma (Traumatic Arthritis)
- 5012Bones, neoplasm, malignant, primary or secondary
- 5025Fibromyalgia (fibrositis, primary fibromyalgia syndrome)
- 5052Elbow replacement (prosthesis).
- 5053Wrist replacement (prosthesis).
- 5054Hip Replacement (Total Hip Arthroplasty)
- 5055Knee, resurfacing or replacement (prosthesis)
- 5056Ankle replacement (prosthesis).
What to do with a Shoulder replacement rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
On this site
Read next
- 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.
- VA Secondary Conditions Explained: Causation vs AggravationA service-connected condition can cause or worsen other conditions. Learn how 38 CFR 3.310 secondary service connection works: causation versus aggravation.
- TDIU: 100 Percent VA Pay Without a 100 Percent RatingTDIU pays the 100% VA compensation rate without a 100% rating. See the percentage paths, the extraschedular route under 38 CFR 4.16(b), and how work affects it.
- P&T vs 100% VA Disability: What Is the Difference?Permanent and total (P&T) and a 100 percent VA rating are not the same thing. Here is what total, permanent, and protected each mean, and what P&T unlocks.
Common Questions About Shoulder replacement VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Shoulder replacement?
Dominant arm: 30% to 100%; non-dominant arm: 20% to 100%, under DC 5051, 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 replacement?
The VA rates Shoulder replacement under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5051, 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 100% dominant-arm rating for Shoulder replacement?
These figures are the dominant-arm column of DC 5051. A 30% dominant-arm rating is published for: Prosthetic replacement of the shoulder joint: Minimum rating. A 100% dominant-arm rating is published for: Prosthetic replacement of the shoulder joint: For 1 year following implantation of prosthesis. The non-dominant arm is rated on its own column, 20% to 100%.
Can Shoulder replacement qualify for TDIU?
Using the dominant-arm maximum: DC 5051 publishes up to 100% for the dominant arm and up to 100% for the non-dominant arm. A 100% rating for one disability meets the single-disability TDIU threshold of 60% (38 CFR § 4.16(a)); if the condition prevents substantially gainful employment, VA pays at the 100% rate without a schedular 100% rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Shoulder replacement?
The key evidence for Shoulder replacement 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.
Which conditions are commonly secondary to Shoulder replacement?
Shoulder replacement is associated with 1 documented secondary condition. Secondary conditions caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability are ratable under 38 CFR § 3.310. See the secondary conditions page for the full list with medical rationale and evidence strength ratings.
What happens at the C&P exam for Shoulder replacement?
The C&P examiner uses a Musculoskeletal System DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 5051 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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