Shoulder Workers Comp Settlement in Missouri

How a Missouri shoulder settlement is calculated

Missouri is a scheduled-loss state. The state legislature assigned 232 weeks of compensation to the "arm (at shoulder)" category in the schedule , under § 287.190 RSMo. You collect 66⅔% of your average weekly wage for that number of weeks, capped at $1,280.84 per week. A partial loss of use scales the number of weeks down by the doctor's impairment rating. A 25% rating pays 58 weeks instead of 232.

The five steps that produce your number:

1. Take your average weekly wage in the 52 weeks before the injury.
2. Multiply by two-thirds. That is your weekly comp check before caps.
3. Apply the Missouri cap of $1,280.84 and floor of $40.00.
4. Multiply the capped weekly check by 232 weeks for a total-loss payout.
5. Scale by the doctor's impairment rating (a percent) to get the real PPD value of your claim.

Worked payout examples

These rows assume a total loss (100% impairment) of the shoulder for clarity. For a partial loss, multiply the final column by the rating percentage your doctor assigned. A 50% rating pays half. A 25% rating pays a quarter.

Shoulder medical context and impairment ratings

Shoulder injuries are the second most common cause of lost-time claims in heavy-labor occupations. The rotator cuff is the most-injured shoulder structure, and rotator cuff repairs are the most common shoulder surgery in workers comp. A SLAP tear or labral tear often comes with the rotator cuff injury, and the surgeon repairs both in one operation. The combined rating is what drives the PPD value.

Common variants and terms searchers use for a shoulder claim: rotator cuff, rotator cuff tear, labrum, labral tear, SLAP tear, AC joint, frozen shoulder, impingement, bicep tendon, bicep tear.

Typical whole-person impairment ratings

The doctor's impairment rating at MMI is the lever the PPD payout turns on. Below are the rating ranges most frequently assigned for shoulder injuries under the AMA Guides. Your actual rating depends on the specific anatomy, the surgical outcome, and how the rating physician applies the Guides.

Ratings here are typical ranges based on the AMA Guides editions adopted by most states. Your state may use a different edition; check the Missouri statute citation in the rate card above.

Recovery timeline to MMI

Rotator cuff repair recovery normally runs three to six months for return to light duty and nine to twelve months for full strength. MMI follows about a year after surgery in most cases. Workers in physically demanding jobs frequently see permanent restrictions even after a successful repair.

Surgery and the Missouri shoulder settlement value

Surgery is the single biggest lever on a shoulder workers comp settlement value. Surgery usually raises the permanent impairment rating compared to the same injury treated conservatively, and the PPD value scales with the rating. Surgery also extends the time you spend in temporary disability, which delays the settlement conversation but does not reduce its eventual value.

For more on whether to have surgery and how it affects the settlement value, see the surgery and settlement value guide.

Common questions about shoulder settlements in Missouri

What is a rotator cuff workers comp settlement worth?

A successful rotator cuff repair typically lands at a 5 to 10 percent whole-person impairment rating, and the PPD value comes from multiplying that rating by the state's statutory weeks per percentage point and the worker's weekly comp rate. A failed repair lands higher. Bilateral tears get rated for both sides.

Does a torn rotator cuff have to be surgically repaired?

No. Some tears, especially in older workers or partial-thickness tears, are treated conservatively with physical therapy and steroid injections. The impairment rating at MMI is usually lower without surgery, but so is the recovery time. The decision is medical, not legal.

Can I get a workers comp settlement for a shoulder injury without surgery?

Yes. A shoulder injury that produces a permanent impairment rating at MMI generates a PPD award, with or without surgery. Soft-tissue shoulder injuries often settle for less than surgical cases because the rating is lower.

How common is a shoulder workers comp claim?

Shoulder injuries account for 6.5% of all US days-away-from-work cases in the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics survey (2024), or about 119,830 cases nationally per year. BLS does not publish a state-level breakdown of body-part counts in the same table, so the Missouri share specifically is not separately published.

Source: BLS SOII 2024 Table R2: Detailed industry by selected parts of body affected (Number) .

Shoulder settlement value in other states

Other states pay very different maximum shoulder settlements for the same total-loss injury. This chart compares the max PPD payout at each state's weekly cap. Missouri ranks #4 out of 6 schedule states for the shoulder.

Each bar shows the maximum permanent partial disability payout for a total loss of the shoulder, calculated as statutory weeks × state weekly cap. A worker earning below the state cap collects two-thirds of their own wage and would receive less than the bar shows. See the Shoulder ranking across all states for the full list.

When will Missouri offer a settlement on a shoulder claim?

Most Missouri cases do not produce a settlement offer until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement. Before MMI, the carrier prefers to keep paying weekly temporary disability and medical bills because the case is still worth an unknown amount. Once MMI lands and the impairment rating is set, the case becomes a math problem the carrier can price. That is when shoulder settlement talks usually start.

Surgery is the other common trigger. If a doctor recommends surgery for the shoulder injury and the worker is still deciding, the rating is in flux and the carrier waits. After surgery and recovery to MMI, the rating stabilizes and the settlement conversation opens. The MMI guide walks through what changes the day MMI is declared.

Tax and timing of payment

Workers compensation paid under a state workers compensation act is excluded from federal gross income under IRS Publication 525 and Internal Revenue Code § 104(a)(1). That covers your weekly checks and any lump-sum settlement that takes their place. Missouri does not separately tax the same income.

The check usually arrives two to four weeks after a judge signs the settlement. Structured settlements and Medicare Set-Aside arrangements add time. See the payment timing guide for the full breakdown.

What this number does not include

The figures above value the permanent partial disability portion of the claim. Missouri workers comp pays several other components separately:

• Medical care, past and future. The carrier pays for authorized treatment of the shoulder injury. A settlement may close future medical for a separate lump sum.
• Temporary disability already paid. Weekly TTD and TPD checks during recovery are a separate bucket.
• Mileage to medical appointments. Missouri reimburses travel at the per-mile rate set by the state.
• Vocational rehabilitation. If the shoulder injury keeps you from returning to your prior job, the carrier may have to pay for retraining.
• Permanent total disability. A separate award entirely, paid if you cannot return to any reasonable work.

Sources

• Missouri DWC State Average Weekly Wage and Benefit Maximums Memo
• Missouri DWC
• § 287.190 RSMo Schedule of Losses
• DOL OWCP State Workers' Compensation Officials
• BLS SOII 2024 Table R2: Detailed industry by selected parts of body affected (Number)