Remedials required for things that occurred years ago

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USAFAHopefulMomma

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
14
Hi, all,
My DS just received notice that he needs to provide remedials for a couple of things that he hasn't had an issue with for years and years. One is childhood asthma that hasn't affected him for 9 years, one is food allergies that he has not received medical treatment for except when he was 6 months old in the ER and one is for stitches in his head twice. I have called his doctor's office to see if his file contains records from the ER visits, but if they don't, do I have to go to the hospitals? How long do they keep records? His last stitches were when he was a little kid. I can't even remember the dates. We haven't received the paperwork from DoDMERB yet, so maybe that gives me more info. I'm just wondering how difficult it's going to be to get the records for stuff that happened so long ago. They also want records from a knee injury, but he never saw a doctor for that. He's basically just recovered on his own. Thanks for any help!
 
Remedials

You will get specific instructions; DoDMERB generally wants the direct records, but in the case of multiple issues that have all resolved (altho of your group , asthma is the biggest one) ; it would be best to get a statement from their current physician addressing all of these. I am a parent of a USAFA 18 , but was waiver authority doctor at USAFA while I was active duty, now have written lots of these statements for DoDMERB as a private physician and understand what they are looking for.
Wait for the letter, make sure the doctor specifically addresses all of the remedials, the stronger statement the better (especially for asthma,/ has not gotten inhalers or treated for a number of years). It is good to have specific notes regarding these issues from the past - but more important to have the current assessment that there are no limitations and no medications currently being used. This doctors statement is very helpful, so I find it is better to make an appointment and go over this with your doctor.
For those that may be filling out DoDMERB forms; elaborate on any yes statements that was fully evaluated , fully functional and not limiting any activities. Often comments that are involved fully in high school sports can be helpful.
Good luck, sounds like these issues can be cleared , but the process slows down application so get supporting documents in asap as the process gets very bogged down later in the year
 
Thank you, usafa18parent. I have received the letter. I think it's amusing that they are having us fill out the head injury questionnaire when it was simply two sets of stitches that just happened to be in his head, all before he was even school age, I think. I'll be calling the medical records department at the hospital to see if they have the ER records for him. I will make an appointment with his doctor. Thanks for that advice. It has been 9 years since he was on any kinds of meds for asthma. Hopefully we'll be able to get things quickly.
 
Unfortunately when one item is identified , DodMERB often then expands on everything listed. Better to give strong statement back covering everything so as to avoid further review, even if it is clearly no issue. It certainly doesn't sound like anything disqualifying , but you obviously want to get back on track. Hopefully with a clarifying letter from the doctor, DoDMERB will clear and won't send to the waiver authority at the base, which obviously slows it down more. My son had lots of these things including a distant actual concussion that totally cleared, and they cleared him pretty quickly.
Good luck, a lot of work but unfortunately one of the many long military administrative issues ahead (but many extremely rewarding opportunities also lie ahead)
 
Been Down This Road

USAFAHopefulMomma,

All situations will be different; however, as a suggestion collect all medical records from and hospital and doctor that your DS has been to. All medical records must be kept; it is not something that can be destroyed.

My DS also had asthma as well as a concussion. His asthma was at the age of 8, the down side is he was given a prescription after 13. Although he never needed the prescription it remained on his record and a flag. Knowing this might be a DQ I retained a pulmonology specialist that also handled Navy divers. That Dr. administered my son a series of test and deemed him to be free of asthma. The clearance letter went in with his medical form.

The concussion ended up being a song and pony dance. He was on a school trip and wacked his melon on a rollercoaster ride. He was in a hospital far away from home. It took them a while to get through the archives and Dr. records.

He later received a remedial which asked for all of his medical history from a certain date. There were no specifics other than “ALL”. This was also something we pre-planned. I had everything ready up to and including his dental.

All of this was mailed back in and in less that a week he was “Qualified”.

In my experiences watching the forum a remedial will result in being qualified. To that end this is no promise and again every medical situation is looked at differently. Organize everything, leave no leaf unturned and keep a copy for your own records.

In regard to the undocumented incidents...no clue how they look at that. The remedial code should give guidance as to what they are looking for.

All the best...
 
If you are concerned... you may also want to hire a specialized consultant to help you formulate your answer.

My son was DQed, and even denied a waiver due to ear surgery. We eventually retained a consultant to help with his rebuttal and was able to acquire a waiver, but it was a long and difficult road. The consultant stated during the process that is much better to handle these things correctly before they get denied, as chances of getting a waiver after the waiver is denied is becoming more difficult. With the military currently downsizing waivers are going to become much more rare.

Google "DODMERB consultants", and contact Glenn.
 
My DS also had to submit hospital ED records from his multiple stitches in his head over the years back to when he was about 18 months old. We just requested all ED records back to the day he was born! It's funny, the way medical documentation has changed over the years. The first record was a few pages long. The more recent ones were "books"! My DS was also pursuing being enlisted and they (not DoDMERB) required him to be tested (at our expense) to see if he was still allergic to Penicillin (which went back to about 18 months old as well). I was initially really ticked but in the end, the testing was well worth it as we learned he had outgrown this allergy. Good luck!
 
remedials

Thanks, everyone. I just talked to the hospital medical records department, and they said if it was something other than a birth record more than 10 years old, they didn't keep the records. So I'm going to go with meeting with our doctor, who has known my son since birth, and have him write a complete statement about all the issues. He hasn't had meds for asthma since he was 8 or 9, only had stitches in his head—yet they still want the head injury questionnaire—before he was 5 and has never been hospitalized or received medical treatment for his food allergies. The doc should be able to address everything. I guess we'll see how it goes. Any other thoughts since the hospital doesn't have records anymore?
 
You might call the DODMERB help line re the lack of records. Tell them what the hospital said and ask them for guidance.
 
Update on medical status

Well, we submitted a letter from our doctor, then had to follow up with an allergen specific blood test. After they got the results of that, they dq'd him for "a history of systemic allergic reaction to food or additives." That was, obviously, very disappointing, because his reaction is very mild. Anyway, we haven't received the letter yet, but how will we know whether the USAFA is going to submit a waiver request for him or not? He has been invited to interviews for all 3 of his MOCs, but has still to submit his CFA. He's giving himself as long as possible to train. He will submit it before November 1 so he still qualifies for the early action plan. I'm just not sure of our next step, and I haven't come up with the info I desire searching the forums. Thanks for any help.
 
Remember the processes are somewhat independent of each other. Continue with your nomination process. If they don't ask you about your medical situation do bring it up. The medical waiver process is through the Academy not the MOC's. If you do get deemed medically unfit and a waiver is denied and ultimately get a NOM, it would be courteous to let the MOC know. They may still be able to substitute to give another kid a shot.

The Academy may not bother with a waiver until you have NOM and/or they consider you a highly sought after candidate .
 
clarification

Craig, you said "if they don't ask you . . . do bring it up." Is that what you meant to say? I have sent an email to the man that everyone refers to as THE answer man, Larry Mullen, at DoDMERB. Hopefully he can help me, if he hasn't retired by now :). Thanks
 
Our DS was DQ for food allergies as well. We found a retired military allergist to examine him. In addition to the skin test there is the blood test. There is also a secondary allergy test that is being used more often and is considered to be more accurate. I would find a retired military allergist to conduct the test if possible. Next contact Glenn at DoDMERB Consultants, he is the former director of DoDMERB and has a consulting business to help navigate the DQ process. Lastly I do not believe Larry Mullen is on this board any longer. Good luck.
 
Sheriff is correct Larry Mullen left this board probably about 3-4 years ago. He created the help desk at DoDMERB and that is who I would contact.

I believe what Craig was saying was if you get the final denial letter from the SA than contact the MOC because they can than slide another nominee in. That being said, I wouldn't even think about it. A waiver process can take months. Some kids won't find out if they have received a waiver until March or !after. The way the system works for an appointment is MOCs must have their slate in by Jan 31.

I would without a doubt not tell them while you are in the waiver process.

Remember DoDMERB only DQs it is the commissioning source that waives.
 
retired military allergist?

How does one go about finding a retired military allergist? If we contact DoDMERB, will they send us the results of all his tests? We'd like to know, especially about the allergen specific blood test.
 
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