DoDMERB DQ

OwenO

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Joined
Dec 5, 2022
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Hi all. I currently have a LOA to USNA. I was disqualified by DoDMERB for "asthma related reasons". I don't have asthma and never have. I chose to take an inhaler a few years back due to a minor ragweed allergy. I no longer have symptoms for that allergy, nor do I take medication for it. I am waiting to see if I get approved for a waiver. Does anyone know my chances.
 
Also, I have everything else in my application completed including nominations.
 
Hi all. I currently have a LOA to USNA. I was disqualified by DoDMERB for "asthma related reasons". I don't have asthma and never have. I chose to take an inhaler a few years back due to a minor ragweed allergy. I no longer have symptoms for that allergy, nor do I take medication for it. I am waiting to see if I get approved for a waiver. Does anyone know my chances.
Did you provide all that medical history in the first go-round medical history or in subsequent responses to Additional Medical Information requests (AMI), where you would have provided background info as you did above?

No one knows your chances, but if you have not been diagnosed in records with asthma, that is a good thing. All cases are evaluated on an individual basis. The waiver authority has a towering stack to get through, and they don’t rush, for the appropriate reasons.

Be prepared to wait and focus on what you can control. The waiver process can go into the late spring.
 
Hi all. I currently have a LOA to USNA. I was disqualified by DoDMERB for "asthma related reasons". I don't have asthma and never have. I chose to take an inhaler a few years back due to a minor ragweed allergy. I no longer have symptoms for that allergy, nor do I take medication for it. I am waiting to see if I get approved for a waiver. Does anyone know my chances.
When you chose to take an inhaler, did you receive a prescription from your physician for it? What symptoms were that inhaler prescribed to address or alleviate? The allergen is perhaps what triggered the reaction. What diagnosis code or specific concern was documented in your medical records from that or subsequent visits which document the medication and medical history that led a reviewer to feel you had concerns? See if it was something like allergic NOS (J45. 0) asthmatic NOS (J45. 9). Confirm if within your medical records there is a documented inhaler use for breathing problems. Do not post what you find out here. Just seek to understand what is documented So you can understand what your options are. Look up military dq conditions and see what May match. Avoid declaring I never had x as if that will help you. Confirm what your chart says so you can perhaps assist with your appeal in a focused manner. Good luck to you.
 
My daughter had to seek a waiver for being prescribed an inhaler several years ago. It required her going to asthma specialist to be tested. Test cleared her of asthma, she received the waiver, and her portal shows Medical with a check mark.
 
I have received no information about AMI.
Did you fill in something incorrectly? I had to complete an AMI because of an incorrect info fill. Because it was sent to DoDMERB at the beginning of October, I still have not been able to receive any information regarding this AMI. I was able to contact Mr. Mullen and he has sent it for processing, as I too have an LOA. I know there is a backlog, so I am still waiting. And I have yet to hear about nominations, since I had my first two interviews two weeks ago, and will have my congressional interview this weekend. Have you contacted Mr. Mullen? or the help email?
 
Hi all. I currently have a LOA to USNA. I was disqualified by DoDMERB for "asthma related reasons". I don't have asthma and never have. I chose to take an inhaler a few years back due to a minor ragweed allergy. I no longer have symptoms for that allergy, nor do I take medication for it. I am waiting to see if I get approved for a waiver. Does anyone know my chances.
Congratulations on the LOA! I know that this is unrelated to your question, however, I am in a similar situation as you except I haven't heard from DoDMERB yet. How long ago did DoDMETS submit your paperwork for DoDMERB and how were you notified of your status?
 
Reach out to the Academy medical and/or admissions team (best way is via the online, daily chat that they hold). Ask the question. Hard to say why you shouldn't get a waiver. But they may know something we/you don't.
 
Does anyone know my chances.
No one here knows your chances...every medical condition is different. About the best that you can get is personal anecdotes or hearsay, which might make you feel better, but could also be wrong or irrelevant. Be patient, respond to any requests for further information promptly, and keep your fingers crossed.
 
Advocate for yourself. Seek details from your physician as to whether or not 'asthma' is listed in your medical record. Reach out to DODMERB and inquire. Be prepared to provide additional medical information and potentially schedule a test with a specialist to rule something out.

Be polite, be proactive, and advocate for yourself.
 
Agree - proactively advocate for yourself. Get the following tests however you can and provide results to DODMERB to prove you don't have asthma. If you can get tests results and a pulmonologist to say you don't have asthma and that you can complete military training and service, that's your best bet.

R241.61 --- REQUIRES A PHYSICIAN'S APPOINTMENT: Please obtain a NEW consultation with a Pulmonologist (60 minute appointment) REGARDING history of wheezing with inhaler use through <date>. Please evaluate (including pre/post bronchodilator, with MANDATORY methacholine challenge if deemed safe) and address history, diagnosis, prognosis for recurrence of symptoms, treatment plan, current medication therapy, and any potential limitations associated with the rigors and austere geographical locations of military service .
R242.07 --- REQUIRES A PHYSICIAN'S APPOINTMENT: Please obtain an inhalation bronchial
challenge test (not including necessary pulmonary function tests); with histamine,
methacholine, or similar compounds. This remedial code is in addition to the remedial
codes of R242.03 and R242.06 and is required for proper billing through the Concorde
contract.

R242.03 --- REQUIRES A PHYSICIAN'S APPOINTMENT: Please obtain a methacholine challenge test performed by a board certified Allergist or Pulmonologist to rule out bronchial hyperactivity, and provide the printouts of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF 25-75% as well as the flow volume loops in accordance with American Thoracic Society guidelines. Provide a written interpretation of the results.
R242.06 --- REQUIRES A PHYSICIAN'S APPOINTMENT: Please obtain a methacholine challenge test performed by a board certified Allergist or Pulmonologist. This remedial code is in addition to the remedial code of R242.03 and is required for proper billing through the Concorde contract.
 
I have received no information about AMI.

you may have provided AMI without realizing it. if you checked "YES" on the original questionnaire for any of the asthma related questions, (ie. have you ever had, asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath.....), and included an explanation in the required comment section saying you had been using an inhaler, then you likely would have been asked to complete the Asthma questionnaire and provide all related medical records.
Unfortunately, any record of airway hyper responsiveness can be an automatic DQ. i haven't heard of someone getting DQ'd without providing any medical records, but maybe that happens.

The specific Asthma condition from the DoDMERB standard (DOD INSTRUCTION 6130.03) is: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/...i/613003_v1p.PDF?ver=9NsVi30gsHBBsRhMLcyVVQ==

"E. History of airway hyper responsiveness including asthma, reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasm or asthmatic bronchitis, after the 13th birthday
(2) History of prescription or use of medication (including but not limited to inhaled or oral corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, or any beta agonists) for airway hyper responsiveness after the 13th birthday."

I believe that a prescription for, and use of, the inhaler can be evidence of "airway hyper responsiveness" and trigger a DQ, but it would have been based on whatever info you submitted, and we certainly don't need to know the details.

This is one of those conditions that can still be a DQ even if the condition no longer exists.

It is also waiverable, but nobody here can tell you how likely that is. If you search this site, you will find plenty of anecdotes of successful waivers for similar issues and some supporting detail but, as Old Navy BGO said, every case is different.

the big thing is to become very familiar with whatever condition they say you have and the DoDMERB standard for it, and very familiar with your medical records, and make sure that any info you have that might support a waiver (ie. anything that shows that you didn't actually have the condition) is submitted. if you have anything relevant don't wait for them to ask for it, they may never ask.
 
The AMI says my son can submit a personal statement as well as many other documents. Would you recommend the personal statement to disprove the asthma was ever an issue?
 
The AMI says my son can submit a personal statement as well as many other documents. Would you recommend the personal statement to disprove the asthma was ever an issue?
If that is a factual statement then absolutely I would say yes.
 
I recall some prior posters speaking about making an asap appointment with a respiratory specialist to test and prove this is not a condition that the applicant has.
 
What was the eventual outcome of @OwenO’s situation? Did the OP eventually resolve their situation and receive a waiver?
 
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