Disqualified for ADHD

[mharrisnewman]

I was just medically disqualified by DODMERB for a childhood ADHD diagnosis. I got nominations to USNA and USAFA. I haven't heard if they are going to request a waiver. I hope so. I am crushed, but I know there is hope. I haven't taken any medication in well over a year, I don't have a 504 anymore or use accommodations, and I have good grades and test scores. I hope they are willing to give me a waiver and that I am accepted. My psychiatrist from the past who diagnosed me and gave me prescriptions for ADHD has written a letter that states I no longer take medication and am doing well academically, and I have that to submit if they ask. Otherwise, I am just waiting with breath held and fingers crossed. Do you know anyone who was disqualified because of ADHD and got a waiver and was later accepted? That would give me more hope. Whatever happens, I am determined to find a way to serve. I hope it is at an academy.

 

[jbm2m]

Replied to your other post but, in absolute worst case scenario, you could do ROTC for a year and reapply. After 2 years of no meds and continued demonstrated performance, ADHD is no longer disqualifying according to DoD Officer Medical Accession Standards.

 

[justme]

Replied to your other post but, in absolute worst case scenario, you could do ROTC for a year and reapply. After 2 years of no meds and continued demonstrated performance, ADHD is no longer disqualifying according to DoD Officer Medical Accession Standards.

Is that true? Or is it just the standard guidance for waivers? I thought the DQ is still based on medication or 504/IEP after 14.

 

[mharrisnewman]

Replied to your other post but, in absolute worst case scenario, you could do ROTC for a year and reapply. After 2 years of no meds and continued demonstrated performance, ADHD is no longer disqualifying according to DoD Officer Medical Accession Standards.

Thank you. That is a good idea. I have applied for the NROTC scholarship, but the DODMERB disqualification affects that also.

 

[USNA_STEM_Prof]

Thank you. That is a good idea. I have applied for the NROTC scholarship, but the DODMERB disqualification affects that also.

I saw a lot of waivers for this when I was an OCS recruiter. I know it's a huge disappointment now, but if commissioning is your goal, it's very attainable through the OCS route (or as an NROTC college program applicant that seeks a scholarship starting your sophomore year if I understand the timeline correctly). Good luck.

 

[jbm2m]

Is that true? Or is it just the standard guidance for waivers? I thought the DQ is still based on medication or 504/IEP after 14.

You’re right. The accommodations are a DQ - but very waiverable if enough time has passed.

 

[PAhopeful24]

A friend of mine just got into USAFA after getting a waiver for childhood ADHD. His condition was very mild and he did not take medication. USNA did not request a waiver for his condition however. I don’t know the exact details of your situation but just hope for the best. I’m rooting for you.

 

[WMSMOM]

I was just medically disqualified by DODMERB for a childhood ADHD diagnosis. I got nominations to USNA and USAFA. I haven't heard if they are going to request a waiver. I hope so. I am crushed, but I know there is hope. I haven't taken any medication in well over a year, I don't have a 504 anymore or use accommodations, and I have good grades and test scores. I hope they are willing to give me a waiver and that I am accepted. My psychiatrist from the past who diagnosed me and gave me prescriptions for ADHD has written a letter that states I no longer take medication and am doing well academically, and I have that to submit if they ask. Otherwise, I am just waiting with breath held and fingers crossed. Do you know anyone who was disqualified because of ADHD and got a waiver and was later accepted? That would give me more hope. Whatever happens, I am determined to find a way to serve. I hope it is at an academy.

Its all about the time off meds and accommodations. If its been 2 years you should get a waiver, if its been less, it will be DQ most likely. If everything else is super high they may waive after 1 year. Accommodations including ET are the same timeframe, so if you even used ET for one AP exam that clock gets restarted.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

A friend of mine just got into USAFA after getting a waiver for childhood ADHD. His condition was very mild and he did not take medication. USNA did not request a waiver for his condition however.

Public Service Announcement -- be careful about anecdotal commentary on medical conditions and waiver on SAF. While perhaps well meaning and intended to give a candidate hope, their are so many variables in evaluation and waiver of medical conditions that one persons outcome has no bearing on another. Even a trend analysis with multiple data points in meaningless unless all variables line up. About the only medical waiver information I would rely on here is when someone has information from a primary source that a given condition is not waiverable.

 

[Tea Baggins]

I was just medically disqualified by DODMERB for a childhood ADHD diagnosis. I got nominations to USNA and USAFA. I haven't heard if they are going to request a waiver. I hope so. I am crushed, but I know there is hope. I haven't taken any medication in well over a year, I don't have a 504 anymore or use accommodations, and I have good grades and test scores. I hope they are willing to give me a waiver and that I am accepted. My psychiatrist from the past who diagnosed me and gave me prescriptions for ADHD has written a letter that states I no longer take medication and am doing well academically, and I have that to submit if they ask. Otherwise, I am just waiting with breath held and fingers crossed. Do you know anyone who was disqualified because of ADHD and got a waiver and was later accepted? That would give me more hope. Whatever happens, I am determined to find a way to serve. I hope it is at an academy.

They will likely request your pharmacy records, and, if you filled a prescription in the last 2 years for ADHD medications you will not get a waiver.

 

[usna1985]

Echoing Old Navy BGO. When Mr. Mullen of DODMERB “fame” used to frequent these boards, he kept repeating that EVERY medical,issue is unique to that person. IOW, what happens to one person has almost no bearing on what will happen to someone else. Check out some of Mr. Mullen’s historical posts for details.

 

[basketball101]

I was just medically disqualified by DODMERB for a childhood ADHD diagnosis. I got nominations to USNA and USAFA. I haven't heard if they are going to request a waiver. I hope so. I am crushed, but I know there is hope. I haven't taken any medication in well over a year, I don't have a 504 anymore or use accommodations, and I have good grades and test scores. I hope they are willing to give me a waiver and that I am accepted. My psychiatrist from the past who diagnosed me and gave me prescriptions for ADHD has written a letter that states I no longer take medication and am doing well academically, and I have that to submit if they ask. Otherwise, I am just waiting with breath held and fingers crossed. Do you know anyone who was disqualified because of ADHD and got a waiver and was later accepted? That would give me more hope. Whatever happens, I am determined to find a way to serve. I hope it is at an academy.

Im actually in the same situation as you. Got medically disqualified from DODMERB but got a couple nominations. My dads friend who works on admissions for West Point says that if you make it thru the academic board, then they'll grant a waiver. It's so annoying that that stuff is disqualifying.

 

[StPaulDad]

Well annoying is one word, but if you're an enlisted sailor deployed to someplace hairy or you've been at sea for eight months where your officer can't get his meds then you're going to want to use some stronger language if that person can't do the job.

They examine these not for suitability for the classroom or training field but for the extreme situations you're training for. Let the process work, and if it's no big deal then it will be no big deal. But if it might be a big deal later then they want to catch it now. I know you've got a lot riding on this, but so do the troops you hope to lead. Be patient.

 

[justdoit19]

Well annoying is one word, but if you're an enlisted soldier deployed to someplace hairy or you've been at sea for eight months where your officer can't get his meds then you're going to want to use some stronger language if that person can't do the job.

They examine these not for suitability for the classroom or training field but for the extreme situations you're training for. Let the process work, and if it's no big deal then it will be no big deal. But if it might be a big deal later then they want to catch it now. I know you've got a lot riding on this, but so do the troops you hope to lead. Be patient.

Great perspective.

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

Im actually in the same situation as you. Got medically disqualified from DODMERB but got a couple nominations. My dads friend who works on admissions for West Point says that if you make it thru the academic board, then they'll grant a waiver. It's so annoying that that stuff is disqualifying.

.
Keep yours eyes “Moving” and focused away from the Professors eyes at all times …. When I did this, my ADHD disappeared ….

Hypnotic affect …. When I focused on the space around my professors talking head … I could suddenly focus my thoughts on the work …

I do it today … and I am turning 62 years young …

I have no problem when the “Action Gets Intense” or I am perched on a 12-12 pitch section of my roof … 30 feet off of the ground …
.

 

[Hopful_Mil_Kid]

I was just medically disqualified by DODMERB for a childhood ADHD diagnosis. I got nominations to USNA and USAFA. I haven't heard if they are going to request a waiver. I hope so. I am crushed, but I know there is hope. I haven't taken any medication in well over a year, I don't have a 504 anymore or use accommodations, and I have good grades and test scores. I hope they are willing to give me a waiver and that I am accepted. My psychiatrist from the past who diagnosed me and gave me prescriptions for ADHD has written a letter that states I no longer take medication and am doing well academically, and I have that to submit if they ask. Otherwise, I am just waiting with breath held and fingers crossed. Do you know anyone who was disqualified because of ADHD and got a waiver and was later accepted? That would give me more hope. Whatever happens, I am determined to find a way to serve. I hope it is at an academy.

One data point does not constitute a trend. But, I have a broadly similar ADHD situation. I ended up getting a new evaluation (as requested by WestPoint) that basically said that it could have been a misdiagnosis. I was granted a waiver about 2 weeks after my P-nom was added to the portal on Jan 29-30 ish. I'm just a candidate, but you're welcome to DM me it you have questions (I know the whole process is super stressful!)

One other thing, a USNA coach recommended that I have a current teacher write a letter directly addressing current abilities to perform without any help of medication and send it to admissions. As he said, I don't know if that will make a difference but it is better than just waiting. My waiver was granted before I was able to put this together so I have 0 idea if this would work, but I thought I'd pass along the information

 

[usna1985]

One note of caution . . . every situation is different. What works (or doesn't work) for one person may or may not work for another. Also, each SA has different medical standards for certain things. For example, red/green colorblindness isn't the issue in the Army as it is in a sea-going service. I don't know whether USNA takes the same approach to ADHD as the other SAs.

The general "rule" for ADHD for USNA is two years off meds and accommodations. However, there are exceptions to every "rule."

USNA typically only seeks a waiver if they consider the candidate competitive for an appointment (i.e., likely to offer an appointment). This is Once they reach that stage, they may or may not request additional documentation / information from the candidate.

Right now, all you can do is wait. Hard to do, I know!

 

[Hopful_Mil_Kid]

One note of caution . . . every situation is different. What works (or doesn't work) for one person may or may not work for another. Also, each SA has different medical standards for certain things. For example, red/green colorblindness isn't the issue in the Army as it is in a sea-going service. I don't know whether USNA takes the same approach to ADHD as the other SAs.

The general "rule" for ADHD for USNA is two years off meds and accommodations. However, there are exceptions to every "rule."

USNA typically only seeks a waiver if they consider the candidate competitive for an appointment (i.e., likely to offer an appointment). This is Once they reach that stage, they may or may not request additional documentation / information from the candidate.

Right now, all you can do is wait. Hard to do, I know!

Absolutely. I mostly just meant my reply as an encouragement to not give up and keep trying! You are absolutely right though, every situation is different. For me, my diagnosis and medicine use were questionable so that probably helped me get the waiver.

 

[mharrisnewman]

One data point does not constitute a trend. But, I have a broadly similar ADHD situation. I ended up getting a new evaluation (as requested by WestPoint) that basically said that it could have been a misdiagnosis. I was granted a waiver about 2 weeks after my P-nom was added to the portal on Jan 29-30 ish. I'm just a candidate, but you're welcome to DM me it you have questions (I know the whole process is super stressful!)

One other thing, a USNA coach recommended that I have a current teacher write a letter directly addressing current abilities to perform without any help of medication and send it to admissions. As he said, I don't know if that will make a difference but it is better than just waiting. My waiver was granted before I was able to put this together so I have 0 idea if this would work, but I thought I'd pass along the information

Do you know how I can get a new evaluation? Was yours done by a military doctor? I would like to go that route, but I don’t know how to find a respected and reputable person to do it. If you have any names to suggest, I would really appreciate it. Or even a path that I can follow to try to find someone to do the testing. Thank you.

 

[basketball101]

Do you know how I can get a new evaluation? Was yours done by a military doctor? I would like to go that route, but I don’t know how to find a respected and reputable person to do it. If you have any names to suggest, I would really appreciate it. Or even a path that I can follow to try to find someone to do the testing. Thank you.

Have you gotten a waiver requested yet?