Surgical replacement of the shoulder joint with an artificial implant.
During the first year after surgery, medical records confirming the date of prosthesis implantation and your hospital discharge are the key evidence. These establish when the 100% rating period begins and ends.
After that year, the evidence that matters most is documentation of what residuals remain in your affected arm. For the 60% level (major) or 50% level (minor), records should show severe painful motion or significant weakness — for example, range-of-motion measurements from a VA or private examiner showing markedly restricted movement, strength testing results, and treating physician notes describing pain during use.
If your residuals are less than severe, VA will rate by analogy to codes 5200 and 5203, so the same types of exam findings apply: recorded degrees of shoulder motion, notes on pain at rest and with activity, and imaging if available. Statements from you or people who know you describing how shoulder pain or weakness limits your ability to lift, reach, dress, or perform work tasks can help show the practical impact of your residual symptoms.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
