Asthma+AROTC

[pokcmom23]

My child when playing football before age 13 was diagnosed with sports induced asthma. He has not had any issues since 2012. He has been offered a 3 year scholarship and when filling out forms for DodMerb physical we put down he had it back then. Will he have an issue getting accepted?

 

[AROTC-dad]

First, I am not a medical professional and my DS never had any asthma issues during DoDMERB. He is about to commission next month so I have been out of the DoDMERB action for over four years.

My answers below are strictly through seeing a lot of sensible commentary on this forum.

My child when playing football before age 13 was diagnosed with sports induced asthma

Any use of inhalers past the age of 12 will be greatly scrutinized by DoDMERB and likely to result in a DQ.

Remember DoDMERB is centralized, meaning it serves all the SA's and ROTC programs. However the waiver process is decentralized, leaving the decision for waiver up to each SA or ROTC program. Thus it is possible to be DQ'd and then be granted a waiver from USMA, but also NOT receive a waiver from AROTC (or vice versa).

In addition, The Air Force and Navy tend to be very strict about asthma, with the Marines and Army less so.

Here are some old threads on the topic:

https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/advice-on-how-to-deal-w-asthma.66524/
https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...lp-interpreting-dodmerb-correspondence.66439/
https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...0-help-interpreting-spirometry-results.65953/
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/asthma-’s.65359/
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/asthma-waiver.64864/

Here are a couple of flow charts that will help familiarize you with how the DoDMERB process works. The first chart is DoDMERB, which is as I mentioned above, centralized. They serve all the SA's and ROTC programs.
The second chart is for Waivers. That is DE-centralized to each SA or ROTC program.
Initial DoDMERB exam Flow:
https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Content/InitExamRemedEvalProc.pdf
Waiver Flow:
https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Content/MedicalWaiverConsideration.pdf

Some key points:

• Answer the DoDMERB questions accurately and truthfully.....no more and no less.
• If it was not medically diagnosed on his records, it should not be included on mom's or dad's "speculative" basis. (unless either of you is a physician).
• If you don't have anything on record for your son or daughter (we call them DS or DD for "dear son" or dear daughter") as having been cleared of asthma, then you should have your physician or better yet, a physician who is familiar with the military, officially clear him.

 

[pokcmom23]

Thank you. So we should be proactive and see his primary to get them to clear him now?

 

[AROTC-dad]

Before you ask your primary doc to DO anything, you should first REVIEW exactly what the record SHOWS.

• WHAT was diagnosed
• WHEN it was diagnosed.
• WHAT was he treated with?
• WHEN was he cleared.

Don't do anything until you know what the record shows.

 

[pokcmom23]

So I should be asking the doctors for all of his records?

 

[AROTC-dad]

So I should be asking the doctors for all of his records?

Yes. That would be required for a review, (unless you recorded 100% of everything he was treated medically for since birth?).
This will help your son answer the DoDMERB questionnaire with accuracy.

 

[pokcmom23]

We have already filled out the questionnaire to set up the appointment for his physical. This is without getting the records from the doctor.

 

[AROTC-dad]

We have already filled out the questionnaire to set up the appointment for his physical. This is without getting the records from the doctor.

I wasn't aware that you already completed the questionnaire.

Then do the best you can without the record review.

You only need to review the records so your son can answer the questions truthfully and accurately. Without the records, you just have to stand by the questionnaire.

If the exam or the answers to the questionnaire trigger additional inquiries from DoDMERB, you can request the records at that time. (hopefully they will match up).

 

[pokcmom23]

He has been asked to fill out a remedial about the asthma now. We has asked for his medical records from his doctor before filling it out. Does that seem like the best idea?

 

[AROTC-dad]

Yes, but expeditiously.

 

[pokcmom23]

DS was medically cleared. Thank God!