Labral Tear (Shoulder) — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Labral Tear (Shoulder)
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960M-12 (Shoulder and Arm Conditions) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
What the examiner measures
- Which arm is dominant (major) vs. non-dominant (minor) — the criteria differ by side
- Flexion and abduction in degrees (normal is 0–180°) — limitation of arm motion is the DC 5201 driver
- Whether motion is limited at shoulder level (90°), midway (45°), or to 25° from the side
- Objective painful motion and additional loss after repetitive use / flare-ups (DeLuca / Correia)
- History of recurrent dislocation/subluxation with guarding of movement (DC 5202)
- Ankylosis of the scapulohumeral joint, or impairment of the humerus/clavicle/scapula, if present
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Labral Tear (Shoulder) — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Labral Tear (Shoulder), based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Musculoskeletal
General rating schedule for musculoskeletalconditions. Your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Painful motion or limitation of motion that is compensable
Moderate limitation of motion or functional impairment
Severe limitation of motion or significant functional loss
Unfavorable ankylosis or severe impairment
Extremely unfavorable ankylosis
Will adding Labral Tear (Shoulder) raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Labral Tear (Shoulder) claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 2015 · PMID 24318507
Finding: In a Defense Medical Epidemiological Database analysis of 11,082,738 service members (2002-2009), approximately 23,632 SLAP (superior labrum anterior-posterior) labral lesions were diagnosed, an adjusted incidence of 2.13 per 1,000 person-years, with the annual rate rising from 0.31 to 1.88 per 1,000 (average 21.2% increase per year). Male sex (IRR 2.12), increasing age, white race, enlisted rank, and Marine Corps service were independent risk factors.
Why it helps: This is the first large-scale military epidemiology study of SLAP labral tears and supports an association between military service and elevated rates of shoulder labral injury, helping establish that this condition occurs at meaningful frequency in the active-duty population.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2016 · PMID 27327025
Finding: A retrospective cohort of U.S. Army soldiers recorded 15,426 incident shoulder dislocations over 10 years, a rate of 3.13 per 1,000 person-years, with recurrent instability in 28.7% of cases. Men (IRR 1.64) and soldiers aged 40 or younger were at greater risk.
Why it helps: Traumatic shoulder dislocation is the leading mechanism producing labral (Bankart) tears, so this documents the high rate of the underlying injury in service members and supports an association between military duty and shoulder instability that drives labral pathology.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American), 2010 · PMID 20595566
Finding: In a prospective cohort of military academy cadets, MRI of 27 first-time traumatic anterior subluxation events revealed a Bankart (anterior labral) lesion in 26 of 27 (96%) and a Hill-Sachs lesion in 25 of 27, and 13 of 14 surgical patients had a confirmed Bankart lesion.
Why it helps: Shows that even incomplete (subluxation, not full dislocation) traumatic shoulder events in a young military population almost always produce labral tears, supporting an association between service-related shoulder trauma and labral injury.
Military Medicine, 2020 · PMID 32601668
Finding: Among 157 active-duty service members under age 40 with posterior labral tears on MRI, 48% (75) ultimately required surgery; a specific injury history, instability complaints, subluxation, and increased glenoid retroversion were significantly associated with surgical treatment (P < 0.05).
Why it helps: Documents that posterior labral tears are a recognized, often surgically managed problem in active-duty members under 40 and supports an association between service-related shoulder injury and persistent, treatment-resistant labral pathology.
American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023 · PMID 37196664
Finding: This cohort of 84 active-duty patients under 35 treated for type V SLAP lesions notes that SLAP labral lesions and anterior instability are common causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction among U.S. military members; both surgical approaches produced significant improvement and high rates of return to unrestricted active duty (77-85% return to work).
Why it helps: Reinforces that labral tears (SLAP and anterior) are a common, service-relevant shoulder condition in active-duty members, supporting an association between military service and shoulder labral pathology requiring care.
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023 · PMID 37435424
Finding: Among 36 active-duty patients undergoing surgery for combined anterior-posterior capsulolabral tears, glenoid bone loss was present in 78% (28 of 36); traumatic cause, glenoid retroversion 9 degrees or greater, longer time to surgery, and larger labral tears were associated with greater bone loss. The paper notes military members experience higher rates of posterior and combined-type instability than nonmilitary peers.
Why it helps: Supports an association between military service and severe, combined-type labral injury and shows that progression to glenoid bone loss is common, which is relevant to documenting the severity and residual effects of a service-connected shoulder labral condition.
Orthopedics, 2021 · nexus to rotator cuff tear, shoulder instability · PMID 34039192
Finding: In 29 active-duty military patients under 40 with concurrent rotator cuff and inferior labral tears, the authors note that rotator cuff tears as a consequence of shoulder instability, though uncommon in this age group generally, are more prevalent in active-duty service members; combined repair improved mean ASES scores from 45.4 to 90.4 (P < .0001).
Why it helps: Supports an association in which shoulder instability and labral injury are linked to concurrent rotator cuff tears in young service members, useful for a secondary-condition argument connecting a service-connected labral/instability problem to additional rotator cuff pathology.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Labral Tear (Shoulder)
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Labral Tear (Shoulder). A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Labral Tear (Shoulder) as a Secondary Condition
Labral Tear (Shoulder) is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Labral Tear (Shoulder)claim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Labral Tear (Shoulder) should also be looking at:
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Labral Tear (Shoulder).
Labral Tear (Shoulder) Claim Guide by State
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.