How to find a variable that works?

PHP
1

Hi, I’m trying to remove the table head from this table if the customer hasn’t made a RMA request. I’ve been trying everything I know with no luck. Can someone take a look at it for me.

<?php $result = $this->getRmaList(); ?>
<div class="page-title title-buttons">
    <h2><?php echo $this->__('Request For Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)') ?></h2>
</div>
<a href="<?php echo Mage::helper('core/url')->getHomeUrl(); ?>rma/index/request">
<h4 align="right"><?php echo $this->__('Add New RMA') ?></h4></a>

<table class="data-table" id="my-orders-table">
<thead>
<tr class="first last">
<th><?php echo $this->__('RMA') ?></th>
<th><?php echo $this->__('RMA #') ?></th>
<th><?php echo $this->__('Order #') ?></th>
<th><?php echo $this->__('Date') ?></th>
<th><span class="nobr"><?php echo $this->__('Status') ?></span></th>
<th><?php echo $this->__('Return Type') ?></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<?php while($resultn = $result->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC)){
	$dateTimestamp = Mage::getModel('core/date')->timestamp(strtotime($created_time));
    extract($resultn);
        echo "<tr class='first odd'>
		    <td><a href=". Mage::helper('core/url')->getHomeUrl() ."rma/index/view/rma_id/$rma_id>View Details</a></td>
            <td>$rma_id</td>
            <td><span class='nobr'><a href=". Mage::helper('core/url')->getHomeUrl() ."sales/order/view/order_id/$order_id>$increment_id<?a></span></td>
            <td>". date('F j, Y g:i a', $dateTimestamp) ."</td>
            <td><span class='price'>$adminstatus</span></td>
            <td class=''>
            <span class='nobr'>$return_type</span></td>
</tr>"; 
} ?>
</tbody>
</table>[/code]

How would I go about it? I've tried things like: [code]<?php if ($result): ?>[/code]that didn't work. I guess I need to find a variable that works, that's what I've been trying. 

Thanks