VASRD 5202 · Musculoskeletal System
Humerus, Other Impairment VA Disability Rating
Arm bone injuries such as dislocation or malunion, affecting function and causing pain.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 80% | The ball of your dominant shoulder joint is gone and the shoulder is flail. |
| 70% | The same loss of the head of the upper arm bone, on your non-dominant side. |
| 60% | A dominant-side upper arm bone fracture that never united, leaving a false joint. |
| 50% | Either a false joint on your non-dominant side, or a fibrous - non-bony - union on your dominant side. |
| 40% | A fibrous, non-bony union of the upper arm bone on your non-dominant side. |
| 30% | On your dominant side, either frequent shoulder dislocations that make you guard every arm movement, or an upper arm bone that healed with marked deformity. |
| 20% | The lowest step this code pays: infrequent dislocations, or a moderately deformed healed humerus, or the more severe findings when they are on your non-dominant side. |
How the VA Evaluates Humerus, Other Impairment
Diagnostic code 5202 covers impairment of the humerus other than ankylosis of the shoulder joint or simple limitation of arm motion, and it prints two columns - major (dominant) and minor (non-dominant) extremity. Its rows are: loss of the head of the humerus (flail shoulder), 80 percent major and 70 percent minor; nonunion of the humerus (false flail joint), 60 and 50; fibrous union of the humerus, 50 and 40; recurrent dislocation at the scapulohumeral joint with frequent episodes and guarding of all arm movements, 30 and 20; recurrent dislocation with infrequent episodes and guarding of movement only at shoulder level (flexion and/or abduction at 90 degrees), 20 in both columns; malunion with marked deformity, 30 and 20; and malunion with moderate deformity, 20 in both columns. Because several rows share a percentage, the evaluation turns on which row the imaging and examination findings satisfy rather than on a single severity scale.
Approval outlook
High (~65%) with imaging of joint damage.
Veterans service-connected
~3,100 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.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •Imaging (X-rays or MRI) showing the specific type of bone or joint impairment.
- •An orthopedic diagnosis identifying which category (dislocation, malunion, nonunion, or loss) applies.
Strategy Tips
- •List the activities limited by the arm injury in detail, since functional impact adds context to the structural finding.
- •Track dislocation episodes if that's your specific issue, since frequency of dislocation is what supports that particular rating tier.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •Filing a claim without imaging to confirm which specific type of impairment applies.
- •No functional limitation reported, even though the different sub-types of this code rate very differently based on severity.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Not describing how often dislocations occur, if that's the relevant issue.
- •Missing surgery records that would help establish the current state of the joint.
Onset Patterns
- •Humerus impairment often results from trauma, a fall, or repeated strain on the shoulder and upper arm during service.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Humerus, Other Impairment. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Common questions about Humerus, Other Impairment
- Is Humerus, Other Impairment a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Humerus, Other Impairment under VASRD diagnostic code 5202 (Musculoskeletal System). Arm bone injuries such as dislocation or malunion, affecting function and causing pain.
- What VA disability rating can I get for Humerus, Other Impairment?
- Possible VA ratings for Humerus, Other Impairment are 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%. Examples: 80%: The ball of your dominant shoulder joint is gone and the shoulder is flail.; 70%: The same loss of the head of the upper arm bone, on your non-dominant side.; 60%: A dominant-side upper arm bone fracture that never…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Humerus, Other Impairment?
- Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Humerus, Other Impairment at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 3,100 veterans are service-connected for Humerus, Other Impairment. Estimated approval outlook: High (~65%) with imaging of joint damage.
- What evidence helps prove Humerus, Other Impairment for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Humerus, Other Impairment claim includes: Imaging (X-rays or MRI) showing the specific type of bone or joint impairment.; An orthopedic diagnosis identifying which category (dislocation, malunion, nonunion, or loss) applies..
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Humerus, Other Impairment?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Humerus, Other Impairment: Not describing how often dislocations occur, if that's the relevant issue.; Missing surgery records that would help establish the current state of the joint..
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Humerus, Other Impairment?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Humerus, Other Impairment include: Shoulder Arthritis, Frozen Shoulder. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.71a — Schedule of ratings — musculoskeletal system (Diagnostic Code 5202)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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