The evidence here establishes, at best, a possibility. In addition, Dr. Christensen and Dr. Durward based their diagnoses and opinions on the belief that Hantke had suffered no previous injuries or problems. Therefore, their opinions provide nothing more than speculative evidence, which is inadequate to meet Hantke's burden. Accordingly, we find no error in Department's decision and conclude that the trial court erred in reversing it. Dr. Christensen, Hantke's physician, explained in his deposition testimony that a degenerative disc is something that generally occurs with age, and that Hantke's degenerative disc was located at L5-S1, the lowest region of the low back area.
Lumbosacral strain refers to a strain of the ligaments between the lumbar spine and the sacrum.
Dr. Dowdle described degenerative disc disease as the drying of a disc, generally through aging, that causes pain. He likened it to a dried up shock absorber. Trochanteric bursitis refers to the inflammation of a bursita, a covering that protects the muscles in the hip bone and pelvis areas. The record establishes that Hantke slipped and fell in July 1995 and suffered an injury of her tailbone, which caused her to miss several shifts of work. She sought chiropractic treatment for this injury eleven times during July, August, and September 1995.