YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) under diagnostic code 5200, in 38 CFR § 4.71a (musculoskeletal system), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 50%, 40%, 30% and 20%.
Free · No account needed
Save your Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) guide
Email yourself this Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) guide so the rating criteria, evidence checklist, and preparation tips are easy to find later.
A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)
Shoulder ankylosis means your joint is stiff or frozen, severely limiting arm motion.
Diagnostic code 5200 rates ankylosis - true fusion - of the scapulohumeral articulation, and 38 CFR 4.71a adds a note that in this condition the scapula and humerus move as one piece. The code prints three criterion rows and two columns, so the same finding pays differently depending on which arm is dominant. Unfavorable ankylosis, with abduction limited to 25 degrees from the side, is 50 percent in the major (dominant) extremity and 40 percent in the minor (non-dominant) one. Ankylosis intermediate between favorable and unfavorable is 40 percent major and 30 percent minor. Favorable ankylosis - abduction to 60 degrees, able to reach the mouth and head - is 30 percent major and 20 percent minor. The schedule sets no separate criterion for external rotation and states no angle range for the intermediate row; that row is defined only as lying between the favorable and unfavorable descriptions.
- Diagnostic code
- 5200
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Schedule levels
- 50%, 40%, 30% and 20%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) VA rating criteria (DC 5200)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note: The scapula and humerus move as one piece.”DC 5200
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
THE EVERYDAY PICTURE
What the Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) examination has to record
The criteria above are read off an examination, and three sections of Part 4 govern what that examination has to contain. None of them is a diagnostic code, so none of them appears in the 5200 table, and all three apply to it. 38 CFR § 4.40: “Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled.”
38 CFR § 4.45 lists what an examination of a joint is directed to consider:
- Less movement than normal (due to ankylosis, limitation or blocking, adhesions, tendon-tie-up, contracted scars, etc.).
- More movement than normal (from flail joint, resections, nonunion of fracture, relaxation of ligaments, etc.).
- Weakened movement (due to muscle injury, disease or injury of peripheral nerves, divided or lengthened tendons, etc.).
- Excess fatigability.
- Incoordination, impaired ability to execute skilled movements smoothly.
- Pain on movement, swelling, deformity or atrophy of disuse.
38 CFR § 4.59: “It is the intention to recognize actually painful, unstable, or malaligned joints, due to healed injury, as entitled to at least the minimum compensable rating for the joint.” So a joint that is painful on use is not a finding of nothing, even where the measured motion is close to normal.
The same section says how the joint is to be tested: “The joints involved should be tested for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing and, if possible, with the range of the opposite undamaged joint.” An examination that records one measurement, taken once, sitting down, has not done what the section asks, and that is worth reading the exam report for.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim2 tips
- 01
Clarify which arm is dominant in your medical records, since the same degree of ankylosis rates differently depending on whether it's your dominant or non-dominant shoulder.
- 02
Submit an orthopedic evaluation and imaging together, since both the fusion itself and its precise angle need to be documented.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Failing to distinguish dominant from non-dominant arm in the exam findings.
- 02
Incomplete range-of-motion documentation, which is central to determining the specific tier.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Claiming this rating without actual range-of-motion testing to confirm the degree of fixation.
- 02
Confusing ordinary shoulder pain or stiffness with true ankylosis (complete fusion), which this code specifically requires.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Shoulder ankylosis usually follows a chronic shoulder injury, surgery, or advanced arthritis that caused the joint to fuse rather than simply stiffen.
YOUR SERVICE STORY
Military jobs associated with Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)
THE BROADER PICTURE
Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate – must clearly document abduction and rotation limits.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~3,700 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~30%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)
Is Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) under VASRD diagnostic code 5200 (Musculoskeletal System). Shoulder ankylosis means your joint is stiff or frozen, severely limiting arm motion.
What VA disability rating can I get for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)?
Possible VA ratings for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) are 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 50%: Unfavorable ankylosis, abduction limited to 25° from the side - major (dominant) extremity; 40%: Unfavorable ankylosis, abduction limited to 25° from the side - minor (non-dominant) extremity; or ankylosis intermediate between favorable and unfavorable - major (dominant) extremity; 30%: Ankylosis intermediate between favorable and unfavorable - minor (non-dominant) extremity; or favorable ankylosis, abduction to 60° and able to reach the mouth and head - major (dominant) extremity.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 3,700 veterans are service-connected for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint). Estimated approval outlook: Moderate – must clearly document abduction and rotation limits.
What evidence helps prove Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint) claim includes: X-rays or MRI confirming true joint fusion; Range-of-motion tests from a VA C&P exam; An orthopedic surgeon's report documenting the fusion's severity and angle.
Which DBQ is used for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)?
VA's Shoulder and/or Arm Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)?
Common pitfalls when filing for Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint): Claiming this rating without actual range-of-motion testing to confirm the degree of fixation; Confusing ordinary shoulder pain or stiffness with true ankylosis (complete fusion), which this code specifically requires.
What conditions can be secondary to Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint)?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Ankylosis of the Scapulohumeral Articulation (Shoulder Joint), when a medical opinion links them, include: Neck Strain; Tendonitis. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings, musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5200)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.40, functional loss
- 38 CFR § 4.45, the joints
- 38 CFR § 4.59, painful motion
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
VA Calc: Disability Pay
Combine your ratings & see monthly pay on your iPhone · Works offline