Hello everyone,
I received a scholarship from AFROTC earlier this year, unfortunately, I was medically disqualified for current or history of atopic dermatitis or eczema after 12th birthday. I only ever had one flare up, which occurred last year around late March/early April, and I was prescribed clobetosol propionate by my dermatologist. I have tried 3 different attempts to appeal my waiver, even going so far as to seeing 3 different dermatologists but all attempts were denied.
When I first started going through these forums, I saw a thread where someone said that if I have my dermatologist comment how extremely mild my case is, I'll have a chance for the waiver. So I submitted a note from my primary dermatologist stating that I "have extremely mild atopic dermatitis, am not on any current treatments, and should not be limited in any activity." When this was denied, I went to another dermatologist for their second opinion. This dermatologist wrote a letter saying that I had a history of a rash that was treated by clobetasol ointment which cleared up in a few days. He also mentioned that now I only have hyperpigmentation and no active rash/disease. This was also denied, due to the fact that my primary dermatologist "made it very clear that I had eczema plaques" when he first saw me. I then went back to the second dermatologist and he wrote another letter basically saying that I had irritant contact dermatitis, not atopic dermatitis. When I browsed through the DoDMERB website, I saw that there was a separate DQ for irritant contact dermatitis, but only if it required treatment more than over-the-counter medication. Before I submitted that letter, I went back to my primary dermatologist and he agreed that it was irritant contact dermatitis, not atopic dermatitis. He also included in his note that I did not require more than over-the-counter medication for treatment. I submitted both of their letters at the same time, thinking that those would be enough for my appeal. When I was disqualified for the 3rd time, I went to another dermatologist who served as the Chief of Dermatology at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. He heard my case and found it crazy that I was being denied a waiver. However, he didn't want to draft a letter without knowing what to say to appeal my waiver, so he advised me to call the HQ/AETC and ask how long I had to wait to receive the waiver, since the flare-up was recent. I called the office earlier this week and I was told that with the protocols they have now, I might never receive the waiver, but I'll have a better chance after 3 years.
Sorry for the really long backstory, but my questions are: Is there anything else I can submit or do that will allow me to receive the waiver? Can somebody explain why AETC is disqualifying and denying me a waiver for atopic dermatitis, when I've had two different dermatologists say that it's irritant contact dermatitis?
Thanks everyone.
I received a scholarship from AFROTC earlier this year, unfortunately, I was medically disqualified for current or history of atopic dermatitis or eczema after 12th birthday. I only ever had one flare up, which occurred last year around late March/early April, and I was prescribed clobetosol propionate by my dermatologist. I have tried 3 different attempts to appeal my waiver, even going so far as to seeing 3 different dermatologists but all attempts were denied.
When I first started going through these forums, I saw a thread where someone said that if I have my dermatologist comment how extremely mild my case is, I'll have a chance for the waiver. So I submitted a note from my primary dermatologist stating that I "have extremely mild atopic dermatitis, am not on any current treatments, and should not be limited in any activity." When this was denied, I went to another dermatologist for their second opinion. This dermatologist wrote a letter saying that I had a history of a rash that was treated by clobetasol ointment which cleared up in a few days. He also mentioned that now I only have hyperpigmentation and no active rash/disease. This was also denied, due to the fact that my primary dermatologist "made it very clear that I had eczema plaques" when he first saw me. I then went back to the second dermatologist and he wrote another letter basically saying that I had irritant contact dermatitis, not atopic dermatitis. When I browsed through the DoDMERB website, I saw that there was a separate DQ for irritant contact dermatitis, but only if it required treatment more than over-the-counter medication. Before I submitted that letter, I went back to my primary dermatologist and he agreed that it was irritant contact dermatitis, not atopic dermatitis. He also included in his note that I did not require more than over-the-counter medication for treatment. I submitted both of their letters at the same time, thinking that those would be enough for my appeal. When I was disqualified for the 3rd time, I went to another dermatologist who served as the Chief of Dermatology at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. He heard my case and found it crazy that I was being denied a waiver. However, he didn't want to draft a letter without knowing what to say to appeal my waiver, so he advised me to call the HQ/AETC and ask how long I had to wait to receive the waiver, since the flare-up was recent. I called the office earlier this week and I was told that with the protocols they have now, I might never receive the waiver, but I'll have a better chance after 3 years.
Sorry for the really long backstory, but my questions are: Is there anything else I can submit or do that will allow me to receive the waiver? Can somebody explain why AETC is disqualifying and denying me a waiver for atopic dermatitis, when I've had two different dermatologists say that it's irritant contact dermatitis?
Thanks everyone.
