Medical Waiver

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HassamaMama

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Dec 19, 2015
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Anybody know how long the medical waiver process takes? I have finished my remedials and now the waiver process has begun, according to the brief call I had with my medical technician when discussing my last remedial, and there is no longer an "Instructions" section on my DoDMERB "View my status" webpage, just the list of all of the actions that have occurred regarding my medical status.
The reason why I am asking is because my parents are starting to worry, and want to know if it will all be done with before May 1st, commitment day.
What usually happens in the waiver process? Who exactly is in charge of it, DoDMERB or USNA?
 
HassamaMama -- Congrats on getting all the remedials done. Where was the medical technician you spoke with? At DoDMERB?, DODMETS?, local doctor's office? or at USNA? This is important for your question. The decision to pursue a waiver is up to USNA. Not everyone that needs a waiver is put forward for the waiver review. The waiver review and the authority/decision whether to grant a waiver is done by USNA. If you were speaking with a medical technician at USNA, then that is probably a good sign for where you are in the process, especially since it is so late in the appointment process for the Class of 2020.

The timeline for the review will depend on their workload and the complexity of your condition(s) requiring the waiver, so it is difficult to say. Again, if you are speaking with the medical folks at USNA then that is probably a good sign to get a timely answer -- either "waiver granted" or "waiver denied". I have seen cases on this forum where the waiver was granted within 5 days after the review was stared, and other cases where the waiver was eventually granted, but was granted too late to allow entry as part of the incoming class.
 
I spoke to the medical technician at DoDMERB.
Also, for my condition, I had some sort of bronchospasm which required me to use an inhaler for less than two weeks - this occurred two years ago, and I have not had any recurring symptoms. I am in great respiratory health and have been one of the best distance runners in my school since last year. Immediately after the occurrence I was able to return to training for cross country, my stronger sport. I had very good CFA scores as well, which is why I received the LOA.
 
I doubt your CFA scores were the reason you rec'd an LOA.

Does your LOA 'expire' May 1 or are you referring to other college 'commitment' dates?

You do not have an offer of Appointment that you have to accept or reject from USNA by May 1, so you are not bound by the same timeframe as those that do.

As you await the waiver (which could come between Monday and never) ask your counselor if the USNA has put a timeline on the conditions of the LOA being met.

As for your parents, there are other threads about parents not supporting their children's desire to attend an SA. (You have commented on one of them) Assume the waiver is coming and make a decision on what you intend to do.
 
Your best bet is to first call the medical staff in the Admissions Office. Just make sure it has been a few working days since DODMERB released their final decision and has "handed" the disposition over to USNA. Your admissions counselor is probably not going to be aware of your exact medical status and would likely point you to the medical folks anyways. Once you have gained more information from USNA's medical staff (i.e. If they are pursuing a waiver, timeline, etc.), then you can ask them to transfer you to your Admissions Counselor and ask any questions you have.

If your condition is waiverable, they are likely pursuing a waiver since you have an LOA. While the waiver process occurs, your conditional appointment will not be rescinded. If you do get an appointment and it is within a week of May 1st or after...they normally give you a week to decide.
 
My CFA surely played a part. If I didn't have those scores I doubt I would have received the LOA.
Also, they are worried about civilian college commitment date, May 1st.

I emailed my admissions counseler last week regarding the waiver process and how long I really have. He did not respond, so should I contact him again to ask what is going on now?
Also, my DoDMERB page says Remedial Required but there are now no steps/instructions underneath the timeline, so should I also call the DoDMERB first? Will the status change from that to "Waiver pursued" or something of the like?
 
Just out of curiosity, how does Dodmerb know if you had prior injury? Do the student openly report this or do dodmerb research & find out? If it is solely on info students give, is it worth reporting small issues ex. minor stress fracture that healed with no intervention or bronchitis infection or others that required no surgery?
 
My ds reported small things like a sprain because he had X-rays to rule out a fracture. He had a bad case of pneumonia his sophomore year that he was prescribed albuterol for (only time in his life he has ever used it) and I anticipated possibly needing to provide further info for that but he was medically qualified with no questions. The questions are pretty clear on what you need to include.
 
They only know what you report.

IMHO, a good guideline is if there was a doctor/ER visit and something was prescribed. That means it is in a medical record somewhere.

The problem can be latter on, especially if you are at a SA or on a ROTC scholarship where something arises again that you should have reported but didn't. There is "fine print" that says they can come after you financially.
 
Thank you, good to know, guess there is no reason to report if no medication or surgery was issued. Beginning to feel Dobmerb can become a nightmare for some?
 
When answering the DODMERB questions, simply answer truthfully. You don't need to elaborate unless asked. If they see an issue they need more information on, then you'll be asked to provide documentation or clarification. For example, my daughter listed that she had had a migraine in the past. DODMERB asked for additional information, but it was in the form of basic questions and answers about whether the migraine caused her to miss school, work, or interfere with normal activities. Since none of those things were an issue, DODMERB was satisfied and cleared her on that issue. Eyesight was a whole different ballgame - her vision is -8.0 diopters in both eyes, which is disqualifying. USMMA granted a waiver. USNA and NROTC - still pending waiver review (in USNA's case - it's been pending for six months).
 
Yeah I marked down that I had been prescribed an inhaler to use for two weeks because I was having a nasty cough - never had to use it before this, don't use it now, have not had to touch any sort of inhalant medication since the occurrence two years ago.
For some reason the DoDMERB said I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma, something I am sure was not present in the documents I provided for my remedial. I do not have asthma and never had it, and I was never diagnosed with it, I simply had to use the inhaler for two weeks until the symptoms of whatever I had were gone. Yet for some reason the DoDMERB insisted I had been diagnosed.
After some research I know that asthma is disqualifying and nonwaiverable (word?) but I do not have it, and have said so in the statements I have had to provide to the DoDMERB!
Thank you for all of your input so far and I hope this all works out quickly.
 
Are you arguing semantics with DoDMERB on whether or not you ever had asthma - it appears for some reason they think you did have asthma?

Or are you waiting for USNA to give you a waiver for something you claim your research indicates is non waiverable?
 
everything can be waived - just about. If a SA wants you, they'll waive you.
 
Not true -- some things will not be waived

It is true that one waiver authority will waive and another will not

For instance -- USAFA and AfROTC will not waive a nut allergy. But USMA and AROTC will. Not in all cases, but they have and will. AROTC has also put out a memo in the past with unwaiverable conditions. Suspect there are similar memos for each waiver authority.
 
Falcon A said:
Not true -- some things will not be waived

It is true that one waiver authority will waive and another will not

For instance -- USAFA and AfROTC will not waive a nut allergy. But USMA and AROTC will. Not in all cases, but they have and will. AROTC has also put out a memo in the past with unwaiverable conditions. Suspect there are similar memos for each waiver authority.
Click to expand...

you missed the "just about" part of my post. Obviously there are some things that will never be waived; however, I've seen many kids get waivers for something that other kids do not. Often it's because the waived kid is an athlete the coach wants, is an academic stud, or meets the quota goals for that year for a particular demographic.
 
So strange...I know many kids with asthma who plays sport, top players varsity. Many healthy kids have mild asthma/allergy. Poor HassamaMaMa! What a pain to be waiting!
 
HassamaMaMa what is your plan B option? Hope you are securing it? I really hope the waiver comes through, but incase do you have NROTC?
 
usnabgo08 said:
Your best bet is to first call the medical staff in the Admissions Office. Just make sure it has been a few working days since DODMERB released their final decision and has "handed" the disposition over to USNA. Your admissions counselor is probably not going to be aware of your exact medical status and would likely point you to the medical folks anyways. Once you have gained more information from USNA's medical staff (i.e. If they are pursuing a waiver, timeline, etc.), then you can ask them to transfer you to your Admissions Counselor and ask any questions you have.

If your condition is waiverable, they are likely pursuing a waiver since you have an LOA. While the waiver process occurs, your conditional appointment will not be rescinded. If you do get an appointment and it is within a week of May 1st or after...they normally give you a week to decide.
Click to expand...

HassamaMama - did you read the post above yours from usnabgo08 that I quoted here? Bold in the quote is mine.
 
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