Hello,
This is my first post so hopefully the thread is in the right place. I will be transferring to Virginia Tech as a junior and will be joining ROTC. I have a few question about the DoDMERB exam that I will have to go through.
I loss the tip of my non-dominant thumb at the finger nail when I was young, but still have full function/feel and I am able to pick up a sewing pin/pencil/etc. More specifically, I still have majority of my distal phalanx and I did not lose up to the interphalangeal joint. So it functions just like my other thumb. If I'm joining the Army, does DoDMERB follow the Army's Standards of Medical Fitness (40-501)? If so, I have done a little research and found the following in the standards. I bolded the parts that I thought were most important. Since I did not lose up to or greater than the inter. joint and I am able to pass the other tests, I shouldn't be referred to an MEB. That being said, do you guys think I will be DQ'd? Should I get documentation of my thumb from a doctor before the DodMERB exam so it might expedite the process (I've heard that getting a waiver may take many months, how would this affect my chances of ROTC?). I'd like to get other people's opinion on this matter. Thanks!
(5) Fingers and thumb (726.4): Inability to clench fist, pick up a pin, grasp an object, or touch tips of at least three
fingers with thumb.
b. Hand and fingers.
(1) Current absence of the distal phalanx of either thumb (885) does not meet the standard
The causes for referral to an MEB are as follows (see also para 3–14):
a. Amputation.
(1) For purposes of this regulation, upper extremity amputation is defined as the loss of part or parts of an upper
extremity equal to or greater than--
(a) A thumb proximal to the interphalangeal joint
This is my first post so hopefully the thread is in the right place. I will be transferring to Virginia Tech as a junior and will be joining ROTC. I have a few question about the DoDMERB exam that I will have to go through.
I loss the tip of my non-dominant thumb at the finger nail when I was young, but still have full function/feel and I am able to pick up a sewing pin/pencil/etc. More specifically, I still have majority of my distal phalanx and I did not lose up to the interphalangeal joint. So it functions just like my other thumb. If I'm joining the Army, does DoDMERB follow the Army's Standards of Medical Fitness (40-501)? If so, I have done a little research and found the following in the standards. I bolded the parts that I thought were most important. Since I did not lose up to or greater than the inter. joint and I am able to pass the other tests, I shouldn't be referred to an MEB. That being said, do you guys think I will be DQ'd? Should I get documentation of my thumb from a doctor before the DodMERB exam so it might expedite the process (I've heard that getting a waiver may take many months, how would this affect my chances of ROTC?). I'd like to get other people's opinion on this matter. Thanks!
(5) Fingers and thumb (726.4): Inability to clench fist, pick up a pin, grasp an object, or touch tips of at least three
fingers with thumb.
b. Hand and fingers.
(1) Current absence of the distal phalanx of either thumb (885) does not meet the standard
The causes for referral to an MEB are as follows (see also para 3–14):
a. Amputation.
(1) For purposes of this regulation, upper extremity amputation is defined as the loss of part or parts of an upper
extremity equal to or greater than--
(a) A thumb proximal to the interphalangeal joint