Secondary Conditions to a Shoulder Condition
A bad shoulder can affect more than the shoulder. Here is what VA's own rules say about conditions that may follow.
The basic rule
A condition can be service connected as secondary when a service-connected disability causes it or makes it worse, and you need a current diagnosis plus a medical link. The full rule and the evidence that helps are on our secondary conditions page. The examples below are shoulder-specific.
Conditions that veterans may claim secondary to a shoulder condition
These are examples, not automatic approvals. Each one is rated under its own part of the VA rating schedule, on its own evidence.
| Possible secondary | Why it may happen | What the rating schedule says |
|---|---|---|
| Neck (cervical strain) | Guarding and posture changes can stress the neck. | Rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (38 CFR 4.71a, DC 5235 to 5243) on neck forward flexion or ankylosis: 10, 20, 30 or 40 percent. |
| Opposite shoulder | Favoring one arm can overload the other shoulder. | Same shoulder codes as any shoulder. Limited arm motion (DC 5201) is 20 percent at shoulder level, 30 percent at midway, 40 percent at 25 degrees for the dominant arm. The non-dominant arm is 20, 20 and 30 percent. |
| Elbow or forearm | Changed lifting mechanics can shift stress down the arm. | Elbow and forearm codes (DC 5205 to 5213) run from 0 percent up to 60 percent in the dominant arm (60 percent is the top rating for elbow ankylosis or flail joint). |
| Nerve problems in the arm | Shoulder injury or surgery can cause or worsen nerve symptoms. | Each nerve has its own code (38 CFR 4.124a, DC 8510 to 8519). Example: the median nerve runs from 10 percent (mild, incomplete) up to 70 percent (complete paralysis, dominant arm). Ratings depend on which nerve, how severe, and which arm. |
| Depression or anxiety from chronic pain | Ongoing pain and loss of function can affect mental health. | Anxiety and depression are rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR 4.130): 0, 10, 30, 50, 70 or 100 percent. |
| Surgical scars | Scars from shoulder surgery may be evaluated separately. | Unstable or painful scars (38 CFR 4.118, DC 7804): 10 percent for one or two scars, 20 for three or four, 30 for five or more. If a scar is both unstable and painful, add 10 percent. |
Dominant or non-dominant arm
Dominant or non-dominant arm
The arm and nerve tables list two columns, major (dominant) and minor (non-dominant), and the percentages can differ. Your exam should record which arm is dominant.
Elbow or forearm problem too? See Elbow and Forearm VA Ratings: Motion, Nerves and the Exam.
Where to call and where to go
Phone
- VA benefits hotline: 800-827-1000, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
- MyVA411 main VA information line: 800-698-2411, 24/7.
- Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1, 24/7.
- Source: VA helpful phone numbers
Official pages
- How to file a VA disability claim
- File for disability benefits online (VA Form 21-526EZ)
- Types of disability claims, including secondary claims
- Evidence needed for your claim
Free help
VA says the services of an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative on your VA benefit claims are always free. Find an accredited representative.