VASRD 5304 · Muscle Injuries
Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis) at 20% VA Disability Rating
Data last updated September 23, 2026
Severe damage on your non-dominant side, or moderately severe damage on either side.
20% combined rating: single veteran, no dependents
$356.66
$4,279.92/year · tax-free · effective December 1, 2025
VA pays on the combined rating, not per condition: this is the amount when 20% is the veteran's combined rating, after all separate ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25.
The full 20% pay chart, with dependentsCombine this rating with others
VA Rating Criteria for 20%
Severe disability of Muscle Group IV in the non-dominant (minor) upper extremity; or moderately severe disability in either the dominant (major) or the non-dominant (minor) extremity.
20% Pay by Household (2026)
Monthly compensation at a 20% combined rating. Additional compensation for dependents starts at a combined rating of 30% (38 U.S.C. § 1115), so below that the single rate applies whatever the household.
| Single (no dependents) | $356.66 |
Lower tier
10% Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis)
$180.42 /mo single
Higher tier
30% Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis)
$552.47 /mo single
Common questions about 20% for Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis)
How much does a 20% VA rating for Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis) pay?
VA pays on the combined rating, not per condition: this is the amount when 20% is the veteran's combined rating, after all separate ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25. At a 20% combined rating, a single veteran receives $356.66 per month ($4,279.92/year) under the 2026 VA rates, effective December 1, 2025. VA disability compensation is tax-free. Additional compensation for dependents starts at a combined rating of 30% (38 U.S.C. § 1115), so below that the single rate applies whatever the household.
What does it take to get a 20% rating for Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis)?
Severe disability of Muscle Group IV in the non-dominant (minor) upper extremity; or moderately severe disability in either the dominant (major) or the non-dominant (minor) extremity.
What's the difference between 20% and 30% for Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis)?
20%: Severe disability of Muscle Group IV in the non-dominant (minor) upper extremity; or moderately severe disability in either the dominant (major) or the non-dominant (minor) extremity. 30%: Severe disability of Muscle Group IV in the dominant (major) upper extremity.
Can a secondary condition raise my rating above 20%?
Yes, up to 100%. A condition service-connected as secondary to Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis) gets its own rating, which VA combines with your other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25, so your combined rating can end up higher than 20%.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.73, Schedule of ratings, muscle injuries (Diagnostic Code 5304)
- VA.gov, 2026 veteran disability compensation rates, effective December 1, 2025
Pay amounts on this page were last checked against VA.gov on September 22, 2026.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
See all rating tiers and evidence guidance
Full VASRD criteria, best evidence, exam pitfalls, and secondary conditions for Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis) are on the main condition page.
View full Muscle Group IV - Shoulder Stabilizer Muscles (Supraspinatus, Subscapularis) guide
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