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If you’ve filed a VA claim for shoulder pain, including conditions like frozen shoulder, it’s likely you’ll be scheduled for an in-person Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam.
Understanding what to expect and how to prepare can make a significant difference in securing the VA rating and compensation you deserve; it will also help calm your nerves on exam day.
Shoulder pain is a common issue among veterans, often due to the physical demands of military service.
In fact, Limitation of Motion of the Arm, including shoulder and arm pain is the #10 most common VA disability.
Pro Tip: VA ratings for shoulder pain and frozen shoulder range from 0% to 40%, with breaks at 10% and 20% based on the severity of symptoms and the limitation of the range of motion as measured with a goniometer during the C&P exam. Frozen shoulder and arm are conditions characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. The VA rates these conditions under CFR Title 38, Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities, specifically under Diagnostic Code 5201 for Arm, Limitation of Range of Motion.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- VA Ratings for Shoulder Pain: VA ratings for shoulder pain and frozen shoulder range from 0% to 40%, with breaks at 10% and 20%. These ratings are based on the severity of symptoms and the limitation of the range of motion as measured with a goniometer during the C&P exam.
- What to Expect at a VA C&P Exam for Shoulder Pain: Understand the exam’s focus on diagnosis, service connection, and severity assessment, including range of motion measurements.
- Questions During the Exam: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your shoulder pain symptoms, history, flare-ups, and functional impact.
- Preparation Tips: Gather medical records, keep a symptom diary, list functional impacts, and review the Shoulder Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) to effectively communicate your condition during the exam.
What to Expect at a VA C&P Exam for Shoulder Pain
A VA C&P exam for shoulder pain is designed to evaluate three main areas: (#1) confirming a diagnosis of a shoulder condition, (#2) determining the nexus for service connection, and (#3) assessing the severity of symptoms in terms of frequency, severity, and duration.
Here are six things you can expect during an in-person VA shoulder pain C&P exam:
1. Review of Medical History: The C&P examiner will start by reviewing your medical records, including previous diagnoses, treatments, or evaluations related to shoulder pain.
2. Discussion of Symptoms: You’ll be asked about your shoulder pain symptoms, including their onset, frequency, and severity. Describe how the pain affects specific areas of your shoulder and its impact on your daily life.
3. Physical Examination: The examiner will conduct a physical examination of your shoulder, checking for signs of conditions like muscle spasm, tenderness, range of motion limitations, or structural abnormalities.
4. Functional Assessment: You’ll be asked how shoulder pain affects your daily activities such as sleeping, working, and socializing. Provide specific examples, such as difficulty lifting objects or performing tasks that require shoulder mobility.
5. Range of Motion Testing: The examiner will perform tests to assess your shoulder’s range of motion. These tests help determine the extent of movement limitations, which are crucial for evaluating the severity of your shoulder pain. Accurate range of motion measurements are crucial. Do not let the C&P examiner move you beyond your pain threshold.
6. Completion of VA DBQ for Shoulder Pain: The examiner will document their findings on the DBQ for Shoulder and Arm Conditions, which is then submitted to the VA Rater for further processing.
What Questions Will I Get Asked at a C&P Exam for Shoulder Pain?
Here’s a list of questions the examiner might ask and document on the DBQ for shoulder pain:
- What are the claimed conditions related to your shoulder?
- Do you have a current medical diagnosis associated with these conditions? If yes, specify the diagnosis and date.
- Describe the history of your shoulder condition, including onset and course.
- Do you experience flare-ups? If yes, describe the frequency, duration, characteristics, precipitating and alleviating factors, severity, and extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.
- Do you have any functional loss or impairment of the shoulder joint? If yes, describe in your own words.
- Are your initial range of motion measurements normal or abnormal?
- Does the range of motion itself contribute to functional loss? If yes, explain how.
- Is there pain on both passive and active motion, and on both weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing? Describe the characteristics of pain observed.
- Can repetitive use testing be performed? If yes, is there additional loss of function or range of motion after three repetitions? Specify the factors causing this functional loss.
- Are you being examined immediately after repeated use over time? If yes, describe any additional functional loss.
- Are you being examined during a flare-up? If yes, describe the additional functional loss during flare-ups.
- Do you have localized tenderness, guarding, or muscle spasm of the shoulder? Describe the severity and location.
How to Prepare for Your VA Shoulder Pain C&P Exam
1. Gather Records and Documents: Collect all relevant medical records, including diagnosis reports, treatment history, and any correspondence related to your shoulder pain. Review the documents in detail and bring hard copies with you to the C&P exam for reference.
2. Create a Symptom Diary: Keep a detailed log of your shoulder pain symptoms, noting their frequency, severity, and duration. Document factors that exacerbate or alleviate your symptoms. This diary will help you articulate the impact of shoulder pain during the exam.
3. List Functional Impacts: Make a list of specific ways shoulder pain affects your ability to perform daily tasks. Providing concrete examples of how shoulder pain impacts your daily functioning will strengthen your case during the exam.
4. Review the DBQ for Shoulder Pain: Familiarize yourself with the Arm and Shoulder Conditions DBQ form. Be prepared to describe the onset and progression of your shoulder pain symptoms over time and discuss how they impact your work, life, and social functioning.
VA DBQ for Shoulder Pain [Download]
The C&P examiner will complete the electronic version of the Shoulder and Arm Conditions DBQ at the conclusion of your exam.
We’ve made a copy available for download below:
About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
