VA primary care will not refer to Rheumatologist or MRI

[EODCMC]

My take. The doctor gave you the answer to the test; probably more than he should have. He mentioned radiculopathy. An example of radiculopathy would be that the pain from the shoulder resonates down the arm and into the hands (often accompanied by numbing and weakness). This indicates cervical and possible nerve damage. Therefore he has cause for an MRI. If you have shoulder pain, they do x-rays. If they don't find sufficient evidence to look further other than the "mere" presence of pain, insurance guidelines/bureaucracy limit the Dr. from going further. Apparently, there are many bureaucrats that are pain tolerant when it happens to others.