Allergy - DQ - Help!

[CoastieDAD]

Hi. DD was conditionally accepted for '27 back in December. Following medical we were informed that DD has been DQ'd due to a history of food allergy. The waiver process has been started. We have been asked for an AMI by allergist. Anyone been thru this or have a contact with an allergist that is familiar with the service academies requirements. Willing to travel. Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[scprepoh]

Did you ask DoDMETS to look for a doctor for you to see? That has less risk of multiple appointments.

 

[CoastieDAD]

Hi scprepoh - We were given (3) options for having the AMI completed; personal physician, DoDMETS Contract Physician, and DOD Facility. We were thinking that we may have more input with a private physician, but as a specialist many of them are months out to get an appointment. Ultimately we just want to do what will have the best odds for the waiver to go through. Seems there must be others that have the same situation?

 

[scprepoh]

My son is going through an ami for navy. He had to do his hearing test twice because the first test wasn't conducted properly. If you have a doc you trust go for it, but I'm not sure many docs would be willing to influence results for someone they don't know. My two cents is to schedule with DoDMERB unless it will take a month to get in. If so go private.

 

[Swimmom816]

Hi scprepoh - We were given (3) options for having the AMI completed; personal physician, DoDMETS Contract Physician, and DOD Facility. We were thinking that we may have more input with a private physician, but as a specialist many of them are months out to get an appointment. Ultimately we just want to do what will have the best odds for the waiver to go through. Seems there must be others that have the same situation?

Coastie Dad - When my DD needed AMI, the first plan was there DoDMETS but there was none in the area so we found a doc at Children's hospital(private physician) to do it that was within a few weeks and had them forward their report. SCprepoh has the right idea.

 

[CoastieDAD]

Thanks Swimmom, I have found a couple private specialists that seem to be able to work with us. Now just hoping that they put the right things in the report to satisfy the Waiver board.

 

[ProudMom7]

Thanks Swimmom, I have found a couple private specialists that seem to be able to work with us. Now just hoping that they put the right things in the report to satisfy the Waiver board.

My daughter needed a waiver (for something completely different). We asked a specialist to write a letter based on her records/tests.

We found the document under the "Questions on the Process" portion of the DODMERB page and made sure that the specialist knew that what DODMERB (and the SAs) were really concerned about was the following:

“4c. Ensure that individuals under consideration for appointment, enlistment, or induction into the Military Services are:
(1) Free of contagious diseases that probably will endanger the health of other personnel.
(2) Free of medical conditions or physical defects that may require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization or probably will result in separation from the Service for medical unfitness.
(3) Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training.
(4) Medically adaptable to the military environment without the necessity of geographical area limitations.
(5) Medically capable of performing duties without aggravation of existing physical defects or medical conditions.”

and also

17. Generalized waiver criteria – The main focus of all waiver decisions is centered on the ability to safely and successfully train, be commissioned, and be world-wide deployable upon graduation/commission. In applying this objective, a few of the questions that are considered are:
a) Is the condition progressive?
b) Is the condition subject to aggravation by military service?
c) Will the condition preclude satisfactory completion of prescribed training and subsequent military duty?
d) Will the condition constitute an undue hazard to you or to others you will be charged in leading, particularly under combat conditions?

The specialist made sure to address those specific concerns in his letter. If you feel that her allergy is truly not a concern, then perhaps you want to consider the conditions/concerns above and ask your doctor to address why your daughter's allergy should not be a problem.

 

[CoastieDAD]

Wow. Thanks ProudMom7. Thats really helpful. I will get to the Dr. next time we see him(hopefully soon) and see if he can address those statements in his report.

Our allergy is limited to a few specific tree nuts and only minor in nature... itchy mouth etc. So hopefully that would be easily addressed.

Thanks again.

 

[dddad]

6.23 g. History of acute allergic reaction to fish, crustaceans, shellfish, peanuts, or tree nuts including the presence of a food-specific immunoglobulin E antibody if accompanied by a correlating clinical history.

It appears from your post that this is the disqualifying condition.

As I understand it, typically a challenge test (ingesting nuts) will be conducted to see if nuts can be tolerated. The results provide the SA with objective information. As a result, it should not matter a great deal who administers the test provided the medical provider is aware of what the requirements are in terms of passing the nut challenge test, or in other words, will administer the test to the waiver authority's standard. This is why it may be better to see a provider with some experience in providing the information needed to obtain the waiver as opposed to a privately obtained provider who may be less familiar with the SA's requirements in terms of information.

 

[CoastieDAD]

Thanks dddad. We have gone back and forth on that one. Will likely reach out to Dodmets this week and see who they can offer. I had understood that the challenge testing was not done as it takes 4+ hours to administer. Basically from what I was told they provide small amounts of tree nuts (in our situation) and they are eaten over the course of 3hrs and then you have to wait an hour to ensure no reaction? This seems to be a challenging process to navigate. Thanks for the advise.

 

[dddad]

Thanks dddad. We have gone back and forth on that one. Will likely reach out to Dodmets this week and see who they can offer. I had understood that the challenge testing was not done as it takes 4+ hours to administer. Basically from what I was told they provide small amounts of tree nuts (in our situation) and they are eaten over the course of 3hrs and then you have to wait an hour to ensure no reaction? This seems to be a challenging process to navigate. Thanks for the advise.

I hope it goes smoothly and relatively quickly - so your candidate DD's appointment is no longer just conditional and is a full appointment. That conditional status is tough on everyone.