Citation Nr: A21020449 Decision Date: 12/22/21 Archive Date: 12/22/21 DOCKET NO. 190207-5755 DATE: December 22, 2021 ORDER Service connection for a left shoulder disorder is denied. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The Veteran served on active duty from May 1979 to April 1988; he has been 100 percent disabled due to unemployability since May 1996. 2. A current left shoulder disorder has not been shown. CONCLUSION OF LAW A left shoulder disorder was not incurred in service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1131, 1112, 5103(a), 5103A, 5107 (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.159, 3.303 (2020). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION A rating decision was issued under the legacy system in May 2015. In August 2018 the Veteran opted into the modernized review system, also known as the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA), by submitting a Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP) election form and selecting the higher-level review (HLR) lane. The agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) issued a RAMP HLR decision in December 2018 and continued the previous denial of the claim. In February 2018, the Veteran appealed to the Board and selected the Hearing option. He testified before the undersigned in an August 2021 Board hearing and was afforded 90 days to submit additional evidence. The claim is now ready for adjudication. Turning to the relevant laws and regulations, service connection may be granted on a direct basis as a result of disease or injury incurred in service based on nexus using a three-element test: (1) the existence of a present disability; (2) in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a causal relationship between the present disability and the disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service. See 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303(a), (d); Holton v. Shinseki, 557 F.3d 1363, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2009). The Veteran contends that a current left shoulder disorder is related to a left trapezius strain which he incurred during active duty. Turning to the medical evidence, clinical treatment records reflect complaints of and treatment for left shoulder pain; however, there is no indication of a specific left shoulder disorder. Rather, left shoulder pain has been related to a spinal disorder for which the Veteran is already service connected. In addition, clinical treatment records from August 2017 reflect complaints of right trapezius muscle pain but did not note any pain of the left trapezius muscle. Further, a November 2017 VA examiner found that the Veteran had an old left trapezius muscle strain by history, which occurred in the 1980s as reported by the Veteran. She noted ongoing complaints of pain in the posterior shoulder and lateral neck with stiffness, tenderness, and limited range of motion. The examiner further noted that the Veteran had a diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome according to 2015 clinical records. She explained that myofascial pain was likely a differential diagnosis and an extension of chronic pain syndrome and back disabilities. She found no evidence of a separate trapezius injury, strain, or other condition that had a direct correlation to in-service complaints. She also noted that the old trapezius strain that occurred during active duty has likely resolved with no residual effects. The Veteran is competent to report that he experienced left shoulder pain because he is competent to describe his observations and report pain experienced in-service. Furthermore, pain alone can constitute a disability if it results in functional impairment. Saunders v. Wilkie, 886 F.3d 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2018). However, the record fails to show that his claimed left shoulder pain results in functional impairment. Specifically, while there is medical evidence of left shoulder pain, there is no evidence of any complaints of functional impairment. Accordingly, the medical evidence does not reflect function impairment of the left shoulder. Rather, the medical evidence shows left shoulder pain that is due to a separately rated disability. As noted above, service connection may only be granted for a current disability; however, as there are no confirmed current diagnosis of any separate left shoulder disorder and no evidence of functional impairment, service connection is not warranted for a left shoulder disorder. The Board has considered the Veteran's lay statements that his disorder was caused by service. He is competent to report symptoms because this requires only personal knowledge as it comes to him through his senses. However, he is not competent to offer an opinion as to the etiology or diagnosis of his current pain due to the medical complexity of the matter involved. Such competent evidence has been provided by the service records, clinical evidence, and examinations obtained and associated with the claims file. Here, the Board attaches greater probative weight to the clinical findings than to his statements. In light of the above, the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection and there is no doubt to be otherwise resolved. As such, the appeal is denied. Finally, the Veteran has not raised any other issues, nor have any other issues been reasonably raised by the record, for the Board's consideration. See Doucette v. Shulkin, 28 Vet. App. 366, 369-370 (2017) (confirming that the Board is not required to address issues unless they are specifically raised by the claimant or reasonably raised by the evidence of record). L. HOWELL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Kokolas, Associate Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.