My son received a medical disqualification R/T optic neuritis which he experienced just 1 year ago. He has been given the congressional nominations and he has excellent qualifications, he even attended the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Does he have any hope of receiving a waiver? What can we do to help? I have taken him to specialists and given DODMERB the reports.
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Disqualification
- Thread starter MOMRN81
- Start date
To be honest, this is the first time I've seen or heard of an applicant disqualified for optic neuritis. So I had to do a little research to get myself familiar with the disease.
I really don't know what the chances will be. You state that you have forwarded the specialists evaluations to DoDMERB, so thats a great step, and you can always have your son write a letter to the waiver authorities explaining the issue in his words, and how his recovery has been.
There are a couple of things that bother me though. Based on what I've read not all who are affected with optic neuritis regain 100% of their vision, but since you didn't mention any other disqualifications I would have to guess that your son does not have that problem. The other issue is that optic neuritis can be a precursor to multiple sclerosis. I'm sure the specialists spoke with you about this as well. Granted the number is not huge (around 35%), but I'm not sure that is a risk that the waiver authorities will want to take.
Again, I've never seen a disqualification for optic neuritis so I am putting forward my guesses. Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong, but I also believe that if there are doubts the applicants need to be aware of them. The best thing I can tell you is to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
If you have any other questions please feel free to ask!
I really don't know what the chances will be. You state that you have forwarded the specialists evaluations to DoDMERB, so thats a great step, and you can always have your son write a letter to the waiver authorities explaining the issue in his words, and how his recovery has been.
There are a couple of things that bother me though. Based on what I've read not all who are affected with optic neuritis regain 100% of their vision, but since you didn't mention any other disqualifications I would have to guess that your son does not have that problem. The other issue is that optic neuritis can be a precursor to multiple sclerosis. I'm sure the specialists spoke with you about this as well. Granted the number is not huge (around 35%), but I'm not sure that is a risk that the waiver authorities will want to take.
Again, I've never seen a disqualification for optic neuritis so I am putting forward my guesses. Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong, but I also believe that if there are doubts the applicants need to be aware of them. The best thing I can tell you is to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
If you have any other questions please feel free to ask!
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2007
- Messages
- 25
First of all I want to let you know that I am not a medical professional and only have one experience dealing with DoDMERB.
My son was DQed for a condition that RetNavy had never seen a waiver for. So, at RetNavy's recommendation 1) we requested son's surgeon to write a letter stating that his condition should not affect him at USNA and sent the letter to DoDMERB 2) son wrote a letter stating how his condition affected him, and completed all remedials that were not costly (like copy of all records). A couple months later he was given a waiver.
I don't know for sure, but I think that these helped. Don't give up.
Good Luck!
My son was DQed for a condition that RetNavy had never seen a waiver for. So, at RetNavy's recommendation 1) we requested son's surgeon to write a letter stating that his condition should not affect him at USNA and sent the letter to DoDMERB 2) son wrote a letter stating how his condition affected him, and completed all remedials that were not costly (like copy of all records). A couple months later he was given a waiver.
I don't know for sure, but I think that these helped. Don't give up.
Good Luck!
Letter written
Well, after the recommendations I asked my son to write a letter in his own words. Hopefully, it will help but we don't have high expectations. We try to look at it from the " glass is half-full" perspective but we are discouraged especially since he may never have further problems. Thanks for the help.
Well, after the recommendations I asked my son to write a letter in his own words. Hopefully, it will help but we don't have high expectations. We try to look at it from the " glass is half-full" perspective but we are discouraged especially since he may never have further problems. Thanks for the help.