Am I going to be DQ'd for past "depression"?

Does anyone know how frequently waivers are given for similar issues to mine? Also, does whether or not you receive a waiver have anything to do with how strong a candidate you are? I also just found out that my doctor had been giving the same insurance code for all the years I've been with him even though he hasn't really been "treating" me for anything in the last 3 years. So basically, on record he has been treating me. This makes me worry a lot and I think it's looking like a DQ might be coming my way.
 
A6E Dad said:
Adjustment disorder is not the same thing as depressive disorder. However, the following section of 6130 covers it:

g. History of a single adjustment disorder if treated or symptomatic within the previous 6 months, or any history of chronic (lasting longer than 6 months) or recurrent episodes of adjustment disorders.

you said you had a "bad patch", so maybe that period was not longer than 6 most. The dq is for chronic or recurring episodes of Adjustment Disorder, not for ongoing treatment. If you a. only had the one episide in 8th grade, and b. was not in the past 6 months, and c. did not recur or last longer than 6 months, you may be fine.

I expect though that there was a question on the questionnaire that said something like "have you ever been treated for any mental health related issues" or something like that. Anytime you answer 'yes', it will trigger a request for remedial info.

The remedials will be basically all your medical records related to the conditions and treatment. So, if you say nothing, they will not ask you for anything but if it comes up later you may/will have a problem.

If you raise the issue now, and say you forgot about it and should have answered 'yes', then they will likely ask you for the records. It's possible that they will look at the records and say you are fine. DODMERB may also DQ you because you had treatment for such a long time and they may infer that the condition persisted.
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Thank you so much!!! I didn't even see this part on 6130.03... That is a HUGE relief.

I'm going to stop seeing my psychologist (it's already been a month) and then take the medical exam in 5 months!!!!!
 
2024candidate said:
Does anyone know how frequently waivers are given for similar issues to mine? Also, does whether or not you receive a waiver have anything to do with how strong a candidate you are? I also just found out that my doctor had been giving the same insurance code for all the years I've been with him even though he hasn't really been "treating" me for anything in the last 3 years. So basically, on record he has been treating me. This makes me worry a lot and I think it's looking like a DQ might be coming my way.
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It’s not like DODMERB comes knocking on your door asking for your insurance records to compare them with what you told them. They rely on applicants to disclose the information they ask for. I suppose the exception may be that if you divulge something that raises eyebrows they might ask you to produce additional records. Anyway, you’re the only one who knows the ins and outs of your situation, so if you can honestly state that you haven’t been treated for depression, then there’s your answer.
 
Kierkegaard said:
2024candidate said:
Does anyone know how frequently waivers are given for similar issues to mine? Also, does whether or not you receive a waiver have anything to do with how strong a candidate you are? I also just found out that my doctor had been giving the same insurance code for all the years I've been with him even though he hasn't really been "treating" me for anything in the last 3 years. So basically, on record he has been treating me. This makes me worry a lot and I think it's looking like a DQ might be coming my way.
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It’s not like DODMERB comes knocking on your door asking for your insurance records to compare them with what you told them. They rely on applicants to disclose the information they ask for. I suppose the exception may be that if you divulge something that raises eyebrows they might ask you to produce additional records. Anyway, you’re the only one who knows the ins and outs of your situation, so if you can honestly state that you haven’t been treated for depression, then there’s your answer.
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So, if I only had an adjustment disorder...not technical a depressive disorder, I can check the no box for "depression/anxiety/excessive nervousness"?? That's brilliant. They might not even ask a question for the adjustment disorder.
 
2024candidate said:
Kierkegaard said:
2024candidate said:
Does anyone know how frequently waivers are given for similar issues to mine? Also, does whether or not you receive a waiver have anything to do with how strong a candidate you are? I also just found out that my doctor had been giving the same insurance code for all the years I've been with him even though he hasn't really been "treating" me for anything in the last 3 years. So basically, on record he has been treating me. This makes me worry a lot and I think it's looking like a DQ might be coming my way.
Click to expand...

It’s not like DODMERB comes knocking on your door asking for your insurance records to compare them with what you told them. They rely on applicants to disclose the information they ask for. I suppose the exception may be that if you divulge something that raises eyebrows they might ask you to produce additional records. Anyway, you’re the only one who knows the ins and outs of your situation, so if you can honestly state that you haven’t been treated for depression, then there’s your answer.
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So, if I only had an adjustment disorder...not technical a depressive disorder, I can check the no box for "depression/anxiety/excessive nervousness"?? That's brilliant. They might not even ask a question for the adjustment disorder.
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I wouldn’t call myself qualified to answer that question. It’s more or less a matter of definition. Nonetheless, there’s probably a field labeled “Other” where you’re free to add any information not covered earlier in the form. But depression is incredibly broad—Everyone experiences ups and downs and at what point something rises to the level of being clinical is somewhat subjective. Your posts indicate that you believe your “diagnosis” was made only for clerical purposes. The point is, if you honestly believe you have never suffered from any sort of affective disorder which would impact your ability to serve (Again you know the answer to this question better than anyone else), you’re free to reflect that on your medical forms. No one’s going to care.
 
Some people will care. Don’t be fooled. Don’t take the opinion of anonymous posters on a forum as gospel. This is DODMERB/SA’s job.
@Kierkegaard is offering their opinion. Same with everyone else here. Including me.

You have mentioned having severe anxiety a few times in your postings over time. That stuck out to me BC when I have read that, I thought “buckle down, this is nothing!” This whole thing is peanuts compared to Plebe summer. Plebe year. And that’s all I have experience with through my DS. Haven’t even dealt with deployments, etc. yet. The BIG stuff.

If you are under medical care for something ongoing for several years, imo, it’s not for anyone but DODMERB (and perhaps the SA) to decide if it’s an issue or not. It’s not for you, your doctor or posters here to decide. That’s what your exams and remedials are for. If it’s nothing that matters, then it’s nothing that matters. But the time to work through that is through DODMERB. Not before, here. And certainly if you have a medical diagnosis, inquiries, forum posts, insurance record....and the question is asked on your DODMRB questionnaire, then you mark yes. Trying to avoid it by playing this game is dishonest. If your diagnosis isn’t one they care about (adjustment disorder vs depressive disorder), THEN THEY WONT CARE ABOUT it. But that’s up to them. And then you sleep well at night and don’t have a 5 year secret to keep. No more anxiety.

Face it , you have been under a doctors care regularly for one thing for over 5 years. That’s not nothing. That’s something. If you decide to lie through omission, that’s on you. Same as anyone else not reporting stuff honestly. Personally that rubs me the wrong way. Big time. There are tons of other candidates that have been completely honest, and dealt with the consequences. Including my own son. Who are super duper qualified. Thinking an example is someone on a medication that has to be out of their system a certain amount of time. So they wait a year and reapply.

To me it’s all the same thing. That’s how I roll. It’s not the end of the world to have to work through this. How do you keep a secret treatment you have had for over 5 years??

To me it’s pretty clear. It’s not grey. It’s black and white. If “have you ever sought treatment for xxx” is asked, you answer yes. As does everyone else. BC you have. Then they decide if it fits whatever box you are trying to fit it in to. And you move on.

If you are quitting treatment, and wait 5 months to take your exam, then you know it’s something....you can’t have it both ways. If you don’t feel it fits in the box, why are you stopping? BTW, I don’t think waiting is a good idea anyhow so that you DO have time to work through AMI’s if necessary. What if you discover you are color blind? That needs a waiver. Better to be one of the first needing that, then the last and they are gone.
 
I'm going to stop seeing my psychologist (it's already been a month) and then take the medical exam in 5 months!!!!!
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I'm not sure that's going to resolve the issue and could make it worse. Your "history" of 4+ years of treatment remains even if you no longer need that treatment. I STRONGLY advise you NOTto wait 5 months to do your medical. That puts you in early January (as not a lot of docs are going to be working at the end of December). Not only is what you have raised here an issue, there could be other, known or unknown, issues. For example, have you ever broken a bone, suffered a concussion, had surgery, etc. Those all CAN require remedials. Starting the remedial process in late January doesn't give you much time to provide the info DODMERB and/or USNA needs to make a decision. You could literally run out of time.

I fully agree in being honest about your situation and expect the decision will rest largely on what your medical records say. If your medical professional has indicated that you need continuous professional help to function well, then a SA and the military probably aren't right for you. There are many other paths to success. [If he has indicated otherwise, it's kind of hard to imagine why insurance is covering it, but I'm neither a clinical psychologist nor an insurance expert.]

As an aside, I suggest you not unilaterally stop seeing your psychologist. It would be better to discuss with him the pros and cons of suspending your sessions (unless, of course, you've already done so).

Finally, most people probably don't need to consult their medical professionals when filling out the DODMERB form. People tend to know if they have a broken bone or many of the other items listed. However, in this case, the OP knew he'd been seeing a psychologist but didn't originally know his diagnosis. Thus, he was unable to determine which, if any, questions might need to be answered in the affirmative. People have a right to their medical records -- the OP could ask for them and then try to work it out. But asking the person who wrote those records might shorten the process and ensure the responses are accurate and in line with the medical records.
 
Thanks for the response and I’m definitely going to take that to heart. The reason I was considering waiting 6 months is because I was being “treated” for the adjustment disorder technically over the last 4 years. I never asked my Dr to do this and my parents didn’t either so it’s frustrating that he doesn’t believe I have that condition any more and still used the same insurance code.

Either way, treatment within 6 months will make me qualified under section g. My adjustment disorder was not chronic - my dr made that very clear yesterday. So, the only violation right now is the technical treatment within 6 months. It seems like a 100% DQ if I take it now and I’m not breaking any rules if I wait 5 months.

Please tell me if I’m missing something.. also, someone above was questioning whether I could handle military duty bc I get anxious during the process of applying to SA’s?? Ha.
 
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2024candidate said:
Thanks for the response and I’m definitely going to take that to heart. The reason I was considering waiting 6 months is because I was being “treated” for the adjustment disorder technically over the last 4 years. I never asked my Dr to do this and my parents didn’t either so it’s frustrating that he doesn’t believe I have that condition any more and still used the same insurance code.

Either way, treatment within 6 months will make me qualified under section g. My adjustment disorder was not chronic - my dr made that very clear yesterday. So, the only violation right now is the technical treatment within 6 months. It seems like a 100% DQ if I take it now and I’m not breaking any rules if I wait 5 months.

Please tell me if I’m missing something.. also, someone above was questioning whether I could handle military duty bc I get anxious during the process of applying to SA’s?? Ha.
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yes - you are missing the part where you are morally required to be 100% truthful on your Dodmerb forms. You omitted the diagnosis and treatment initially, and now you are plotting how you can maintain that falsehood. Whether you have your actual dodmerb exam now or 6 months from now - the Dodmerb questionnaire you filled out is false now. You have a moral obligation to correct it now. Your response is to attempt to circumvent rules instead of admitting a mistake and correcting an error, which calls into question your moral qualification to serve as an officer.
 
Everyone should definitely take what they read here with a grain of salt. And I agree with being transparent on the forms. However there’s no sense in sugarcoating the facts— There are literally hundreds if not thousands of current midshipmen who when applying chose not to disclose their history of broken bones, color blindness, asthma, eczema, alcoholism, ADHD, food allergies, or suicidal attempts, and nothing’s going to happen to them. It’s not a taboo subject within the Brigade sadly. Are they all liars who are unfit to serve? Maybe! But some of them are otherwise some of the kindest, smartest, hardest working people I know. Again I don’t condone their behavior. Just being realistic: Midshipmen aren’t all saints—It’s one of the Academy’s many dirty little secrets, and that can be a tough pill for many parents and other supporters to swallow. It’s the way of the world unfortunately. Having said that, the fact that it’s widespread and you could get away with it doesn’t make it right. All applicants should follow their. conscience.
 
2024candidate said:
Thanks for the response and I’m definitely going to take that to heart. The reason I was considering waiting 6 months is because I was being “treated” for the adjustment disorder technically over the last 4 years. I never asked my Dr to do this and my parents didn’t either so it’s frustrating that he doesn’t believe I have that condition any more and still used the same insurance code.

Either way, treatment within 6 months will make me qualified under section g. My adjustment disorder was not chronic - my dr made that very clear yesterday. So, the only violation right now is the technical treatment within 6 months. It seems like a 100% DQ if I take it now and I’m not breaking any rules if I wait 5 months.
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Simple answer -- don't play games, don't quibble, and don't try to play Dr. or Lawyer... get your exam when they schedule it, tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they fall. I've previously stated what you need to do to to improve your chances , ie.. get your Dr. on your side and address the issue up front. To do anything else is inappropriate and will bite you in the long run.

In response to the query about the slippery slope /conflict of interest in asking your treating physician to participate, I view Doctors as professionals that will do whats right. This is not a technicality; your diagnosis , and what he/she has been treating for you for for 4 years , falls within the standards or it doesn't.

There is a reason for the medical standards. This isn't an application to State U. The mission of all of the Service Academies is to prepare leaders for military service, and physical/mental qualification is certainly a prerequisite. A lot of outstanding Men and Women get left on the cutting room floor because of physical/mental issues, many of which they never knew they had.
 
I’m not going to offer any advice regarding your current “condition “ and waiting 5 more months, but what about any other medical issues? Have you ever had a surgery, broken bones, or any other therapy for example? If yes, I would recommend seeing the appropriate care provider for that/those past conditions and get reevaluated. Ask them to provide you with a letter clearing you of any and all limitations and stating you are 100% cleared of any restrictions (if that is their conclusion). This will help preventing any other delays from DODMERB later on, especially because you are waiting so long to schedule that appointment. You would be at least addressing any known past history, but you may still have an unknown DQ that DODMERB finds with you. You would then have a smaller window of time to try to get a waiver etc....
Hopefully you will get it all sorted out, but be honest and proactive to help yourself.
DODMERB is no joke, many candidates struggle to get cleared, and some never do, but that is part of the required “Q” and for good reason.
 
I have read through the entire document for criteria for disqualification and nothing else is of concern even slightly. I’m perfectly healthy, never had surgery, and I’ve never broken a bone.

I know this is not advised, but what if there isn’t anything on my medical record that says anything about the condition? In theory, wouldn’t there really be no way for that to come out?
 
Yes. There are ways for it to come out.

Plus it’s lying. So that’s fine with you? A cover up? How do you justify that? Honor is a BIG part of the Midshipman’s moral code. Forget whether the medical issue is a DQ or not....what about moral standards? And yes, they DO matter.
 
2024candidate said:
I know this is not advised, but what if there isn’t anything on my medical record that says anything about the condition? In theory, wouldn’t there really be no way for that to come out?
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This is the type of logic that will land you in front of an Honor Board someday, or get sailors killed. The fact that there is no record, or no one is watching you, is never an excuse for not doing the right thing.
 
I enjoyed reading the evolution, here.
Bravo Zulu.
 
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of current midshipmen who when applying chose not to disclose their history of broken bones, color blindness, asthma, eczema, alcoholism, ADHD, food allergies, or suicidal attempts, and nothing’s going to happen to them. It’s not a taboo subject within the Brigade sadly
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Integrity is doing what's right when no one is looking. Lack of integrity usually catches up with you. Sometimes, sadly, it doesn't. But you still have to live with yourself.

"Nothing is going to happen to them" is a spurious statement. Medical qualification isn't a joke. It's not some sort of paper exercise. There's a reason for the standards. These undisclosed medical conditions could at some point in their military career get the military member killed or, worse, get their shipmates killed. They may think they're clever today -- wonder if they'll still feel that way when someone dies because of their omissions.
 
2024candidate said:
You’re right. I’m not going to go down that road. I’ll just take the exam and hope for the best.
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When our Class of 20 Mid was diagnosed as color blind, someone suggested learning how to memorize the test. We never considered that option. We didn't think that was the right way to begin a career of honorable service. It seemed to help that his BGO and others were certain he would get a waiver, BUT . . . First, there was no way they could know if he would get a waiver. Since that year, I have become somewhat familiar with that process (more than most might know), and I can assure you, there is NO way to know.

Don't game the system. It is not who you want to be. Also, do not delay this process. Time will become your greatest enemy.

As for us, he got the waiver that January. He will tell you that he is occasionally a little sad that he cannot fly, but he had a great Plebe year with his brother as a firstie. He has LOVED his academy experience, and he's pretty damn happy with where his service selection is possibly/likely headed. Oh. One more thing. There have now been several times when his color blindness has been confirmed. The game, if he had played it, would have been up at some point -- no later than I-Day.
 
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