DoDmerb - Enuresis Confusion

NY2022

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My son had occasional enuresis as an adolescent, but it stopped before he turned 13 . On the Dodmerb questionnaire (Report of Medical History) that is filled out prior to Dodmerb exam, it asks if "YOU HAVE EVER HAD BEDWETTING AFTER AGE 12". So, of course my son will check YES. When doing research on if this will be disqualifying for entry into a service academy, I found out that medical waivers are only necessary if the applicant "Does Not Meet Medical Standards" as outlined in DoDI 6130.03. So I went to that document and found information on enuresis under 2 sections:

Urinary System

c. History or treatment of the following voiding symptoms within the previous 12 months:

(1) Urinary frequency or urgency more than every 2 hours on a daily basis.
(2) Nocturia more than two episodes during sleep period.
(3) Enuresis (788.30).
(4) Incontinence of urine, such as urge or stress.
(5) Urinary retention.
(6) Dysuria.

Sleep Disorders

a. Chronic insomnia (780.5). Within the past year, had difficulty sleeping, or used
medications to promote sleep for more than 3 nights per week, over a period of 3 months.
b. Sleep-related breathing disorders (327). Current diagnosis or treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders, including but not limited to sleep apnea (327.2).
c. Current or history of narcolepsy, cataplexy (347-347.11), or other hypersomnia disorders (327.13-19).
d. Circadian rhythm disorders requiring treatment (307.45).
e. Current or history of parasomnia (327.44, 327.49), including but not limited to sleepwalking, enuresis, or night terrors (307.46), after the age of 15.
f. Current diagnosis or treatment of sleep-related movement disorders to include restless leg syndrome (327.5).

Am I safe to assume that he will not be disqualified for enuresis for any service academy since his enuresis stopped before age 13? It is very confusing because the DoDmerb Exam asks "after age 12", but all my research shows an enuresis disqualification is for after the age 15. Should I ask for a note from his pediatrician in an advance of any remedial being triggered stating when the enuresis stopped and that there has been no recurrence since age 12 and have my son bring it to his DoDmerb exam? Thank you for any insight!
 
I may be reading this wrong, but this is where I see it.

The question is bedwetting after age 12. Your answer will be YES.

DoDMERB will decide whether to Q, DQ or ask for a remedial from there. The SAs will decide whether they will waive.

Get his medical records in order with the expectation that you may get a remedial at best or DQ at worst.
 
My son had occasional enuresis as an adolescent, but it stopped before he turned 13 . On the Dodmerb questionnaire (Report of Medical History) that is filled out prior to Dodmerb exam, it asks if "YOU HAVE EVER HAD BEDWETTING AFTER AGE 12". So, of course my son will check YES. When doing research on if this will be disqualifying for entry into a service academy, I found out that medical waivers are only necessary if the applicant "Does Not Meet Medical Standards" as outlined in DoDI 6130.03. So I went to that document and found information on enuresis under 2 sections: ...

Am I safe to assume that he will not be disqualified for enuresis for any service academy since his enuresis stopped before age 13? It is very confusing because the DoDmerb Exam asks "after age 12", but all my research shows an enuresis disqualification is for after the age 15. Should I ask for a note from his pediatrician in an advance of any remedial being triggered stating when the enuresis stopped and that there has been no recurrence since age 12 and have my son bring it to his DoDmerb exam? Thank you for any insight!

The DoDI 6130.03 can be supplemented by service specific criteria. Army is AR 40-501 among others.

Have the medical records and response ready for submission but you can also add context to the Medical History when completing the online forms.
 
My son had occasional enuresis as an adolescent, but it stopped before he turned 13 . On the Dodmerb questionnaire (Report of Medical History) that is filled out prior to Dodmerb exam, it asks if "YOU HAVE EVER HAD BEDWETTING AFTER AGE 12". So, of course my son will check YES. When doing research on if this will be disqualifying for entry into a service academy, I found out that medical waivers are only necessary if the applicant "Does Not Meet Medical Standards" as outlined in DoDI 6130.03. So I went to that document and found information on enuresis under 2 sections:

Urinary System

c. History or treatment of the following voiding symptoms within the previous 12 months:

(1) Urinary frequency or urgency more than every 2 hours on a daily basis.
(2) Nocturia more than two episodes during sleep period.
(3) Enuresis (788.30).
(4) Incontinence of urine, such as urge or stress.
(5) Urinary retention.
(6) Dysuria.

Sleep Disorders

a. Chronic insomnia (780.5). Within the past year, had difficulty sleeping, or used
medications to promote sleep for more than 3 nights per week, over a period of 3 months.
b. Sleep-related breathing disorders (327). Current diagnosis or treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders, including but not limited to sleep apnea (327.2).
c. Current or history of narcolepsy, cataplexy (347-347.11), or other hypersomnia disorders (327.13-19).
d. Circadian rhythm disorders requiring treatment (307.45).
e. Current or history of parasomnia (327.44, 327.49), including but not limited to sleepwalking, enuresis, or night terrors (307.46), after the age of 15.
f. Current diagnosis or treatment of sleep-related movement disorders to include restless leg syndrome (327.5).

Am I safe to assume that he will not be disqualified for enuresis for any service academy since his enuresis stopped before age 13? It is very confusing because the DoDmerb Exam asks "after age 12", but all my research shows an enuresis disqualification is for after the age 15. Should I ask for a note from his pediatrician in an advance of any remedial being triggered stating when the enuresis stopped and that there has been no recurrence since age 12 and have my son bring it to his DoDmerb exam? Thank you for any insight!
As a parent who had do deal with a DoDMERB DQ and waiver as well as being a nurse I recommend you do the following:
1) Get ALL child medical records together now that describe this issue / diagnosis.
2) I would make sure you have current blood work, urinalysis, kidney function test, diabetic test results that can help show that none of theses are an issue then or even now.
3) Get you pediatrician to write a detailed report explaining that this is not an issue since 13 and was he on any meds or not for this issue. If it was only from a puberty issue make sure he explains that and very important that its not from a psych issue such as anxiety, trauma etc..
That's my 2 cents :)
 
I may be reading this wrong, but this is where I see it.

The question is bedwetting after age 12. Your answer will be YES.

DoDMERB will decide whether to Q, DQ or ask for a remedial from there. The SAs will decide whether they will waive.

Get his medical records in order with the expectation that you may get a remedial at best or DQ at worst.
Thank you Pima! I will definitely send medical records with my DS for his DoDmerb exam.
 
The DoDI 6130.03 can be supplemented by service specific criteria. Army is AR 40-501 among others.

Have the medical records and response ready for submission but you can also add context to the Medical History when completing the online forms.
Thank you AROTC Parent! I will try and research the supplemental service specific criteria. If anyone knows where I can find it for USAFA and USNA, please let me know. I will have all medical records ready for DS and his DoDmerb exam, but I like to understand all the rules and regulations if possible.
 
As a parent who had do deal with a DoDMERB DQ and waiver as well as being a nurse I recommend you do the following:
1) Get ALL child medical records together now that describe this issue / diagnosis.
2) I would make sure you have current blood work, urinalysis, kidney function test, diabetic test results that can help show that none of theses are an issue then or even now.
3) Get you pediatrician to write a detailed report explaining that this is not an issue since 13 and was he on any meds or not for this issue. If it was only from a puberty issue make sure he explains that and very important that its not from a psych issue such as anxiety, trauma etc..
That's my 2 cents :)
Thank you Motorguy! I will call our pediatrician tomorrow to get all medical records. If DS is applying for class of 2022, should I go ahead and get the blood work and tests done now, or should I wait and get it done closer to his DoDmerb exam which would at the earliest be this summer? Thanks again!
 
Am I safe to assume that he will not be disqualified for enuresis for any service academy since his enuresis stopped before age 13? It is very confusing because the DoDmerb Exam asks "after age 12", but all my research shows an enuresis disqualification is for after the age 15. Should I ask for a note from his pediatrician in an advance of any remedial being triggered stating when the enuresis stopped and that there has been no recurrence since age 12 and have my son bring it to his DoDmerb exam? Thank you for any insight!
You are not safe to assume that he will be qualified. There have been many cases reported where the applicant believes they meet the standard, but DoDMERB disqualifies and sends it to the commissioning source for a waiver. They do this to inform the commissioning source and let them make the decision via waiver. (I am reporting what has been posted here by others. I feel that if you meet the standard you should be qualified, otherwise why have the standard, or change the standard and apply it)

You can err on the side of caution and bring a Dr. note to the exam, but my experience with DS physical is that the Dr. will record into the history what the patient tells them. So make sure that your DS specifically tells the Doctor when the last episode was and that it has not reoccurred since and it is fully resolved. I think that detailed report is what you are going to need for a remedial, not necessarily for the physical exam.

Also, I believe the DoD standard was changed around 2010 and they removed the disqualification for a history of. It is not history of in the past 12 months. But, the after age 15 language is in the most current version of Army AR40-501. Any history of bedwetting in the past 12 months is not good. It is one of a handful of conditions that show up in this document of non waiverable medical conditions. https://www.jmu.edu/rotc/prospective-cadets/Non-waiverable medical conditions.pdf It is good you are doing your homework. Hope it goes smoothly and DoDMERB follows the standard and finds your DS Qualified, but be prepared to fight to get them to see it your way. And as always have a solid plan B in place.
 
Thank you Motorguy! I will call our pediatrician tomorrow to get all medical records. If DS is applying for class of 2022, should I go ahead and get the blood work and tests done now, or should I wait and get it done closer to his DoDmerb exam which would at the earliest be this summer? Thanks again!
Blood work can be whenever, its just to show he has no issues that would cause the enuresis. Your pediatrician may in fact already have this on file and had conducted these test back when he was 13.
 
You are not safe to assume that he will be qualified. There have been many cases reported where the applicant believes they meet the standard, but DoDMERB disqualifies and sends it to the commissioning source for a waiver. They do this to inform the commissioning source and let them make the decision via waiver. (I am reporting what has been posted here by others. I feel that if you meet the standard you should be qualified, otherwise why have the standard, or change the standard and apply it)

You can err on the side of caution and bring a Dr. note to the exam, but my experience with DS physical is that the Dr. will record into the history what the patient tells them. So make sure that your DS specifically tells the Doctor when the last episode was and that it has not reoccurred since and it is fully resolved. I think that detailed report is what you are going to need for a remedial, not necessarily for the physical exam.

Also, I believe the DoD standard was changed around 2010 and they removed the disqualification for a history of. It is not history of in the past 12 months. But, the after age 15 language is in the most current version of Army AR40-501. Any history of bedwetting in the past 12 months is not good. It is one of a handful of conditions that show up in this document of non waiverable medical conditions. https://www.jmu.edu/rotc/prospective-cadets/Non-waiverable medical conditions.pdf It is good you are doing your homework. Hope it goes smoothly and DoDMERB follows the standard and finds your DS Qualified, but be prepared to fight to get them to see it your way. And as always have a solid plan B in place.
Thank you 5Day! I have done extensive research and hoped my DS would be safe because he clears the standards for enuresis using the DoDI 6130.03 document that DoDMERB uses to Q or DQ candidates. But I am now realizing that it is not as objective as it might seem. I just now want to make sure we handle this in the most effective way with DoDMERB. My DS was a VERY HEAVY sleeper and his pediatrician said that combined with not yet having enough of the antidiuretic hormone released during sleep was the cause for his enuresis (blood work and urinalysis were performed and results were all normal). It literally just stopped right before he turned 13 and he has never had a problem since. We hadn't even thought about it in years until we saw the DoDMERB questionnaire which caused me to begin my research into the matter. Thanks again for your insight!
 
My DS had a splenectomy when he was 11, due to trauma which is qualifying. I also did a lot of research for him, pulled all his medical records and scans and was ready for, at a minimum, a remedial. He wrote the response on the medical history form pointing out how he met the standard. I guess they liked and accepted his response on the medical history form and during the physical. He was qualified without a remedial. We were ready for a challenge that never happened. I wish you the same luck.
 
My DS had a splenectomy when he was 11, due to trauma which is qualifying. I also did a lot of research for him, pulled all his medical records and scans and was ready for, at a minimum, a remedial. He wrote the response on the medical history form pointing out how he met the standard. I guess they liked and accepted his response on the medical history form and during the physical. He was qualified without a remedial. We were ready for a challenge that never happened. I wish you the same luck.
I love this story! I will discuss this tactic with my DS. I even went to the DoDMERB website and found every DQ code that could be given for enuresis and the codes either say within the last 12 months, or after the age of 15. There is no DQ code that I could find for enuresis unless it occurred within the last 12 months or after age 15. I do realize that this might not matter and it will be up to DoDMERB to decide if they want to ask for a remedial or disqualify my DS, which would then pass the decision on to the commissioning source. I will update the results when we know the outcome in case it helps others navigate the DoDMERB medical qualification process and/or enuresis issues.
 
Just want to follow up on this post in case anyone else has an enuresis question. DS was deemed QUALIFIED with no enuresis remedial. DS explained that he was a heavy sleeper as a child, approximate date of last incident and date of last urinalysis which was normal. Urinalysis taken during DoDMERB exam was also normal. We were prepared for a remedial at best, but I think answering in a clear concise manner showing DS met the medical standard was key. Thanks to all who gave advice!
 
Nice to see a follow up and I am glad it all worked out for your DS.
 
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