Asthma and Lazy Eye waiver chance??

[Blue1970]

My child has had asthma as a child, never had an attack since 9 but as a preventative (overly protective mother) we have always had a nebulizer and inhaler as a precaution. Our Doctor has said that he will perform a spirometers test and if passed will explain that he has not had or needed medication but has had them as a precaution only. Child runs track and has not needed the inhaler but had the prescription. Hope a letter works!! Any past experience or lessons learned that I should know or ensure happens before he sees the DR and meets the DODMEDB to complete his AFROTC scholarship that he has accepted for the fall. FYI he is not looking to be a rated officer...looking at research science or engineer.

with 25 years in USAF myself-knowing that he does not need the inhaler and he is in great shape I would be very displeased with the USAF! I even think I would put Integrity aside and tell him to forget he ever had asthma!

Second he also has a lazy/Weak eye he sees 20/20 but one eye is uncorrectable to 20/60 I think!

Does Anyone think he will have a chance????

 

[navymomwannabe]

Welcome to the forums...this question may be better off in the DODMERB forum but here's a bit of an answer for you

Childhood asthma before the age of 14 is easier to waive but obviously your son will have to have the spirometers tests. Asthma is an automatic DQ which requires extra paperwork, testing, etc. I suggest you start getting all your ducks in a row. Someone who has gone through this process will have more information. As to the lazy eye, I have not seen that question before. I know for USNA/NROTC they need to be correctable to 20/20. My son is blind as a bat without his contacts but since he is correctable to 20/20 it's no problem.

 

[Cluelessparent]

Just curious...he has not needed the inhaler but you keep the script active, as in having it filled, all these years as a precaution? So there is a tend of having it filled on his medical record? Sorry,I have no idea on the subject just curious....I will be watching the answers. I Hope everything turns out ok.

 

[Blue1970]

Yes as I have it on auto refill... and he uses it sometimes out of habit and wife always wanted him to carry it with him, and the wife has asthma so never cared as long we had puffers... Now I realize should never had it refilled!! And now it Will be on his medical records! I am hoping the Doctors letter and spirometer test will suffice!

 

[Wilco]

You may want to go on the DODMERB forum part here and type in asthma. There are some good threads and discussions. Because he had prescription over age of 13, thus diagnosis, there will be presumption he meets military standard for asthma, which you may be able you to overcome. Providing his medical records showing no asthma problems but inhaler prescription combined with a good spirometry might be sufficient. But they may also ask or send for methacholine challenge. No doubt you are upset at prospect but if it is in his medical records, certainly with diagnosis after age 13, it has to be disclosed. Navy father here was very proactive and worked out for his son. Good luck.

 

[Pima]

I agree you might want to post this over on DoDMERB, or at least search the threads there because there are a ton of candidates that have posed this question.

I would expect at least a remedial since his inhaler prescription is current. The remedial may be one of the exams that Wilco mentioned, or it may be from your own doctor.

I think there may have been a few that have posted about the lazy eye aspect. I think the problem will be that it is not correctable to 20/20, regardless if he doesnt want to go rated, I believe the DQ would be 20/20 by DoDMERB standards. Not sure, and maybe KP2001 can answer for sure if that is an automatic DQ. If correct, than he will have to go through the waiver process.

Just remember before you really start worrying is that DODMERB is the military's medical clearing house for physical qualifications, for lack of better terms. The commissioning branches are those that grant waivers. AFROTC can say no, and AROTC can say yes, or vise a verse.
~ Just saying if someone says that NROTC denied the waiver dont automatically assume AFROTC will say no.

 

[Cluelessparent]

and he uses it sometimes....

May be the kicker.... of course as others say post in DoMERB and pursue
Agree with pima > I would expect at least a remedial since his inhaler prescription is current. The remedial may be one of the exams that Wilco mentioned, or it may be from your own doctor.

Again Good Luck...

 

[Petry7]

I was initially disqualified because I had "asthmatic symptoms" on my file from an illness when I was 15. They sent me to get a spirometry test , and I had a consultation with an asthma specialist. It was a lot of waiting and paperwork but I was eventually granted the waiver (AROTC). My understanding is that anything mentioning "asthma" on file is an instant dis-qualifier, but there are ways around it if you think you have been misdiagnosed.