Damage or impairment to the upper arm bone affecting shoulder or arm function.
The type of evidence that helps most depends on which rating level you are trying to document. For the highest levels — flail shoulder, nonunion, or fibrous union — imaging such as X-rays or MRI reports that show the state of the bone and the shoulder joint are central. Surgical reports describing what was found and done, along with operative notes, can confirm a loss of the humeral head or a failed union.
For recurrent dislocation, medical records showing how often dislocations happen matter a great deal. Records that describe whether you guard all arm movements or only movements at shoulder level help separate the 30%/20% level from the 20%/20% level. Your own written statement, or statements from people who see you daily, describing how often episodes occur and which movements you avoid can support this distinction.
For malunion, imaging that shows the degree of bone deformity — and clinical exam notes describing whether that deformity is marked or moderate — are the key records. Exam findings documenting pain, weakness, or restricted motion caused by the deformity also reflect the functional impact the rating criteria are meant to capture.
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.
