Diagnostic Code 5201: Shoulder. Limitation of Arm Motion Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.71a
- Rating range
- 20% to 40%
- Rating levels
- 3
- Body system
- Musculoskeletal system
The VA rates Shoulder. Limitation of Arm Motion under diagnostic code 5201 in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 5201 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 20% | At shoulder level (flexion and/or abduction limited to 90 degrees), major or minor arm; midway between side and shoulder level (flexion and/or abduction limited to 45 degrees), minor arm What raters look forflexion or abduction limited to 90 degrees; flexion or abduction limited to 45 degrees, minor arm |
| 30% | Midway between side and shoulder level (flexion and/or abduction limited to 45 degrees), major arm; flexion and/or abduction limited to 25 degrees from side, minor arm What raters look forflexion or abduction limited to 45 degrees, major arm; flexion or abduction limited to 25 degrees from side, minor arm |
| 40% | Flexion and/or abduction limited to 25 degrees from side, major arm What raters look forflexion or abduction limited to 25 degrees from side, major arm |
DC 5201 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 3,510 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 5201 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 20.5%, denied 69.7% and sent 9.7% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 20 percent | 391 | 21.5% |
| 30 percent | 220 | 57.3% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 5201 rulings
Percentages use all 342 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate79.5%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened11.7%
- No exam problem recorded7.6%
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 5201 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Shoulder. The Shoulder condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
Other conditions rated under this code: Rotator Cuff Injury.
What happens to Shoulder appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 33,094 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Shoulder, 2021 to 2026. The Shoulder condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Shoulder appeals generally rather than DC 5201 specifically. The DC 5201 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 5201?
Diagnostic code 5201 is the VA rating schedule entry for Shoulder. Limitation of Arm Motion, found in 38 CFR § 4.71a. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 5201?
DC 5201 provides ratings of 20%, 30%, 40%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 5201 require?
The 40% rating for Shoulder. Limitation of Arm Motion requires: Flexion and/or abduction limited to 25 degrees from side, major arm.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 5201?
In 3,459 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 5201 from 2021 to 2026, 19.7% were granted, 70.5% denied and 9.8% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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