Spirometry

I'm a junior in high school so I haven't started the DODMERB process yet, but when I was younger I was diagnosed with very mild exercise induced asthma. Long story short, I haven't used an inhaler in probably 4 years now and just the other day I went to a pulmonologist and took a spirometry test. He said I'm all clear and no longer have anything. Is this sufficient to avoid needing a waiver at some point, or will I still be DQd and need to get a waiver?

nsbUSNA said:

I'm a junior in high school so I haven't started the DODMERB process yet, but when I was younger I was diagnosed with very mild exercise induced asthma. Long story short, I haven't used an inhaler in probably 4 years now and just the other day I went to a pulmonologist and took a spirometry test. He said I'm all clear and no longer have anything. Is this sufficient to avoid needing a waiver at some point, or will I still be DQd and need to get a waiver?

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When you fill out your medical history form, ensure you annotate that you were diagnosed with the condition. Bring your spiro results to your DoDMERB medical exam and be prepared to fax them in.

The diagnosis history may trigger a "remedial" which is a request for more information from DoDMERB in order to make a qualification decision. Faxing in your April results might give them enough information not to need a remedial.

No one here can say for sure. When you fill out the paperwork, list everything truthfully and if possible include documentation from the pulmonologist for this last visit. It's possible you could get a remedial, which means they just want additional information. Or they could send you to a different doctor to have the spirometry test redone. Or you could be DQ'd and wait for a waiver. If your exercise induced asthma was diagnosed before age 13 and not treated with inhalers after age 13, you have a better chance; if you were diagnosed after age 13, then it's more of an issue. Remember, I'm not with DoDMERB, but my DS had asthma before 13 (not exercise-induced) and received a remedial (did methacholine challenge), then was qualified.

My DS had the same condition. Had a pulmonary function test done in February of his Junior year. The dr cleared him and provided a letter saying as such. Fall of Senior year, Submitted it with the DODMERB physical and also had to mail it in later, after DODMERB requested it. Received a letter 4 weeks later saying DS was all set - perfectly qualified. So just be sure to have that paperwork ready to submit - multiple times if necessary! Good luck!


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