Question:

I was station in Wilkes Barre, PA at a Recruiting Station (MEPS). I was playing softball one afternoon and I was running from one base to the next one when I ran and tripled over the bag. I hurt by back during that game. I sought treatment at the Wilkes Barre General Hospital. I did not get an X-Ray and I was told that it appears to be a sprain or a pulled muscle. I was given pills to help with the pain. Because I was on Active Duty I was ask to follow up with the VA. The VA does not have records nor does the hospital. I was treated by other military clinics during some of my travels between bases but there are no treatment records. I was denied for the back condition because there was no evidence in my service records. I now need a nexus letter but I cant provide medical evidence that the injury occurred in the service. This happen around 1984 or so.

Jim's Reply:

This isn't at all unusual. The fact is that 1984 was a long time ago. You're claiming to have an injury that you can't prove happened. According to what you tell me there are no witnesses, no medical records, no records of any treatments or x-rays or anything else.

These claims are the most difficult of all to prove and from what you've told me I don't see any way to make a service connection. You'll understand that even the most open disability program can't accept only the recollections of a beneficiary, not everyone would be totally honest if that happened.

If I were you, I'd not pursue a claim based on this unproven event.