Rotator Cuff Tear — 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 Rotator Cuff Tear
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 Rotator Cuff Tear — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Rotator Cuff Tear, 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 Rotator Cuff Tear 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 Rotator Cuff Tear 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.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2025 · PMID 40763830
Finding: In a nested matched case-control study of active-duty U.S. Army Soldiers (N=869,651, 2016-2021), the incidence of rotator cuff tears was 0.94 per 1,000 person-years, and Soldiers with a prior shoulder impingement syndrome had a substantially higher rate of developing a tear (hazard ratio 2.46, 95% CI 2.28-2.66), with the highest risk window 2-4 years after impingement.
Why it helps: Supports an association between the occupational/physical demands of military service (which drive shoulder impingement) and subsequent rotator cuff tears in active-duty personnel, helpful for establishing in-service onset and progression.
JAAOS Global Research & Reviews, 2022 · PMID 35412499
Finding: Among 324 military cadets (mean age 20.5 years) undergoing shoulder stabilization surgery, MRI demonstrated concomitant rotator cuff tears in 5.56% of cases, documenting that rotator cuff tears occur in young, active service members alongside shoulder instability.
Why it helps: Supports an association between physically demanding military activity and rotator cuff tears even in young service members, countering the assumption that rotator cuff tears are only an age-related civilian condition.
Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 2015 · PMID 26612238
Finding: This review of occupational shoulder disorders found evidence that exposure to combinations of physical workplace strains, including overhead working, heavy lifting, forceful work, and awkward postures, increases the risk of shoulder disorders including rotator cuff pathology.
Why it helps: Supports an association between physically demanding occupational duties (overhead work, heavy lifting common in military jobs) and rotator cuff/shoulder disorders, useful for connecting service-specific physical demands to the condition.
Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2023 · nexus to diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia · PMID 35257948
Finding: This systematic review and meta-analysis found increased odds of rotator cuff disease with diabetes (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.43-1.55), hypertension (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.19-1.65), and hyperlipidemia (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.42-1.55), with diabetes specifically associated with rotator cuff tears (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.52), likely via vascular insufficiency mechanisms.
Why it helps: Supports a secondary-service-connection theory where a service-connected metabolic condition (diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia) contributes to the development of a rotator cuff tear.
Medicina (Kaunas), 2023 · nexus to diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia · PMID 37241230
Finding: In 64 patients younger than 50 years with rotator cuff tears, 75% had a long-standing smoking habit and/or predisposing medical conditions (diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, thyroid disease, COPD), leading the authors to conclude the role of trauma alone is markedly overstated and degenerative/medical factors are central.
Why it helps: Supports a secondary-service-connection theory in younger veterans, where underlying service-connected medical conditions (rather than a single injury) predispose to a degenerative rotator cuff tear.
Clinics in Sports Medicine, 2012 · nexus to hyperlipidemia · PMID 23040548
Finding: This review of rotator cuff tear natural history notes a multifactorial etiology including age-related degeneration plus micro/macrotrauma, with smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and genetics shown to influence tear development, and documents that substantial full-thickness tears generally progress and enlarge over time.
Why it helps: Supports both a secondary association (hypercholesterolemia as a contributing factor) and the natural-history point that an in-service tear tends to worsen over time, useful when arguing continuity and worsening of a service-related shoulder injury.
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 Rotator Cuff Tear
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Rotator Cuff Tear. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Related Guides
Rotator Cuff Tear as a Secondary Condition
Rotator Cuff Tear is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Rotator Cuff Tearclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Rotator Cuff Tear should also be looking at:
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Draft your Rotator Cuff Tear personal statement
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Rotator Cuff Tear.
Rotator Cuff Tear 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.