Separate ratings occur when there is another distinct manifestation of a disability that is not currently rated. This information is not a substitute for legal advice. Because the severity of musculoskeletal disabilitys symptoms can vary from day to day, a Veteran might wake up in the morning unable to touch their toes when they could the day before. Shoulder replacements are evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5051. A normal range of motion for shoulder extension to the highest point you can lift your arm behind your back starting with your palms next to your body is between 45 and 60 degrees.. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. If it can bend to 30, it is rated 20%. In order for the VA to determine your disability rating, they have to assess both the nature and severity of your injury or condition. If you have more than one condition affecting your shoulder, might be able to get a disability rating for all of those conditions. For shoulder disabilities that result from bone, tendon, or ligament issues, the VA assigns a percentage based on the severity of the range of motion limitation (see tables below). Amputation There are a few requirements you must meet in order to qualify for VA disability payments. A favorable opinion will endorse the view that the shoulder or arm condition was caused by service. Payment amounts vary depending on factors like the number of dependents. VA Disability Rating for Back Pain | The Tuley Law Office Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Flexor muscles of elbow: (1) Biceps; (2) brachialis; (3) brachioradialis. 5306 Group VI. How to Get a 100 Percent VA Rating (if deserved)! The maximum rating for each arm is 80% for your secondary side and 90% for your primary side. Your military records are important. And if theres ever a question about which of two or more evaluations to use, the VA will always use the evaluation that provides the higher rating. Specifically, if there is weakness and severe pain with motion, then it is rated 60 percent for the dominant arm and 50 percent for the non-dominant arm. The shoulder joints are surrounded by muscles that keep the bones fitted tightly together. Some veterans may not be aware that VA disability ratings can be assigned for shoulder-specific impairments and painful motion like rotator cuff tears, bursitis, and more. Veterans will need to be able to show that a condition is impacting their well-being and ability to work. These ratings include: The most important factors of a veterans disability and getting an increased rating will be how the shoulder pain developed, what kind of treatment you needed, and how the initial pain and recovery impacted your ability to earn an income. We advocate for the disabled. Most of the time, youll receive a musculoskeletal rating based on your shoulder range of motion if you were to lift your arm away from the side of your body. How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits April 26, 2023 Dear Chairman Tester and Ranking Member Moran, A veteran disabled in the service of our country Can I still apply for VA benefits even though I left the military years ago? It only provides that VA policy is to recognize actually painful motion as entitled to at least the minimum compensable evaluation for the joint When each qualifying joint motion is painful but motion is not actually limited to a compensable degree under its applicable 52XX-series DC, only one compensable evaluation can be assigned VA Disability Ratings for Shoulder and Arm Conditions Veterans who have a disability resulting from a shoulder injury during service may be entitled to VA benefits. What Veterans Need to Know About Osteoarthritis? Keep in mind all joints (shoulder, elbow, knee, and back) are based on a range of motion, not the amount of pain it causes or the amount of medication needed for relief. DOCX Section A. Musculoskeletal Conditions - Veterans Affairs For example, a veteran would need to show diagnosis and treatment records for a medical condition, such as a shoulder disability. representing common disabilities of that body part. We guide our clients through the most difficult times in their lives with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. Fill out the short form below to contact us. The right law firm can help you present these facts to the VA so you may receive your rightful VA disability benefits. During a C&P exam, a doctor or medical professional will measure your range of motion and express the extension in degrees for rating purposes. Protective tissues called the labrum line the joint socket. In contrast, pyramiding is a practice prohibited by VA, and refers to when a veteran has two disability ratings for a single manifestation of their disability. Each condition gets its own code and is eligible for a certain level of disability rating. A diagnosis from your treating physician for a torn rotator cuff. The shoulder's anatomy is complex, but all the different moving parts allow a wide range of motion in the joint. You will probably only receive one rating for your condition per shoulder. Learn what youve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation youve earned for your service. Some veterans may not be aware that VA disability ratings can be assigned for shoulder-specific impairments and painful motion like rotator cuff tears, bursitis, and more. A statement from your treating physician that states that the tear was caused by your time in the service (known as a medical nexus). Payments for ratings of 30 percent and above depend on whether you have a dependent spouse and/or children. Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation theyre due. Maximizing VA Disability for Limited Range of Motion: The - YouTube The VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities provides a basis for service connection and rating each disability. To file for disability, youll need to submit your documentation to the RO where it will be reviewed. If the knee can only bend to 15, then it is rated 30%. VA Disability Ratings for Shoulder and Arm Conditions - Your patient is applying to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disability benefits. Shoulder Examination Range Of Motion Shoulder - Everything - YouTube Instead, the VA uses a system that calculates the total disability you are entitled to. Columbus, OH: 100 E. Campus View Boulevard, Suite #250, Columbus, OH, 43235 First of all, you must have a diagnosed shoulder or arm condition. The Schedule also provides charts to help assist with understanding what these degrees mean. The joint should allow the arm to move in multiple directions without any pain. VA Disability for Shoulder and Arm Injuries - Woods and Woods, LLC There are three options you should know about: If youve been denied a shoulder pain VA rating, dont give up. If you have a disability rating of 10 percent, youll receive $165.92 a month, and with a rating of 20 percent, youll get $327.99. Significant injuries from training or combat are a common source of chronic disability for veterans. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call with an experienced Team Member. Chicago, IL: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Floors 8 and 9, Chicago, IL 60604 At 45 degrees, those ratings will be set at 30 percent and 20 percent. ), Inability to sleep or use the shoulder for weight-bearing. 10% rating: Flexion is between 30 and 45 degrees, or the combined range of motion is between 175 and 340 degrees. These will be replaced with prosthetic components that will act in place of the damaged structures. In the most severe cases of injury, you may have to have your whole arm amputated up to the shoulder. 4 years + 1 604 Capital Orthopedic jobs available on Indeed Orthopaedic care provided at office locations and . The VA does not rate a disability under limited range of motion and degenerative arthritis. Service Connection for Shoulder Disability Repair, Secondary Service Connection for Rotator Cuff Repair, Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams for Rotator Cuff Repair, VA Disability Ratings for Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair. 4. If youre a veteran dealing with shoulder pain, you may be wondering how to get a shoulder pain VA rating. A Goniometer will probably be used at your C&P exam to measure Range of Motion (ROM) of your shoulder and arm. He is aformer active duty Air Force officerwith extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. For example, a veteran can be entitled to multipledisability ratings for a knee conditionif they experience instability in addition to limitation of motion. If you have questions about wrist injuries, single incident ratings, or IU, feel free to call us at 1-800-728-0434 or email us at Lifehealth@FriedmanFirmPC.com. For instance, under the subcategory for The Knee and Leg, there are eight diagnostic codes: Several of these disabilities are rated based on the degree of motion, but we will look specifically at limitation of extension for an example. The VA Schedule of Rating Disabilities provides a basis for service connection and rating each disability. Cookies help us deliver the best experience on our website. Feel free to call us at (866) 232-5777 anytime. Youll also get 10 percent if your bones did heal back together, but not properly. The Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system is found at, , and it contains numerous subcategories. Using a measurable metric like range of motion (ROM) makes it easier for the VA to accurately assess a Veterans level of disability. If you have to have a shoulder replacement, the VA will place you on 100 percent disability for the first year after the surgery and you will get a code of 5051. VA Claims Insider Submits Statement to Senate VA Committee: How to Protect Veterans From Financial Exploitation of Their VA Benefits. Moreover, if there is pain (without limited motion), then the VA's painful motion principle kicks in. If you had your shoulder dislocated anytime during your active duty, make a note of it and tell us when you call. Finally, veterans must show a connection between in-service injury or disease and the present disability. For example, diagnostic code 5301 measures the upward rotation of the scapula, elevation of the arm above shoulder level, and the extrinsic muscles of the shoulder girdle. Once a dislocation happens, it can cause long-term weakness in your shoulder. The VA is looking for the impact that your disability has on your life on your ability to work, maintain relationships with family and friends, and carry out simple tasks. Not being able to use your shoulder can affect your ability to work and limit daily life. In this specific post well cover the Rotator Cuff and we will also discuss bursitis briefly as it can lead to rotator cuff injuries. You can request for a higher authority to look at the case. Second, the veteran must be able to show that something happened in service There must be an in-service occurrence of something that led to the shoulder disability. These cookies do not store any personal information. You can submit new evidence, such as new documentation of thickness tears. , making each day a different experience for Veterans with these conditions. If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free. The experienced VA disability attorneys on our team understand how VA claims work and are dedicated to helping Veterans get the compensation they are entitled to. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, rate on residual . However, it is important to note that if you have multiple injuries in your arm, those cannot be combined for a higher rating than the rating youd get for amputation of the limb. These cookies dont collect information that identifies you. Houston, TX: 2925 Richmond Ave, 12th Floor, Houston, TX 77098 If you feel that your claim has been denied wrongly, you can make an appeal with the help of an attorney. Two things that veterans know are a given in active duty military life. The shoulder moves with every arm motion. Date, circumstances of onset, and course since onset. According to Title 38, for a minor shoulder that can raise between 25 and 90 degrees is 20% disability. His eBook, the9 Secrets Strategies for Winning Your VA Disability Claimhas been downloaded more than 300,000 times in the past three years and is the #1 rated free VA disability claims guide for veterans. You may be owed compensation. Here one of our certified VA disability lawyers talks about that increase. Relevant disabilities should be documented in military service treatment records. Exercises such as Lateral Neck Flexion and Neck Rotations will help relieve neck pain and the other issues caused by poor posture and a shortening of the . This article discusses four things you need to know about shoulder pain and VA disability. The Schedule of Ratings lists disabilities under different categories based on the part of the body affected. I Hurt My Wrist Bad in the Service. Can I Get VA Disability? To prove service connection, a veteran must satisfy three basic criteria. Phoenix, AZ: One Renaissance Tower, Two North Central Avenue, 18th & 19th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004 For shoulder disabilities that result from bone, tendon, or ligament issues, the VA assigns a percentage based on the severity of the range of motion limitation (see tables below). You could also be eligible for a VA disability rating for arthritis in your shoulder if your range of motion limitation doesnt qualify you for a compensable rating. If your knees are significantly inhibited in their range of motion to the point that they can only extend to more than 45 degrees of being completely straight, your disability score is likely to be as high as possible. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14526-musculoskeletal-pain, https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/health-strategies/musculoskeletal-disorders/index.html. The VA disability rating for shoulder impingement is usually rated either as an impairment of the clavicle or scapula OR limitation of motion of the arm.