DQ Rebuttal?

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cadet_candidate

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I am posting this in the hopes that someone will be able to help me. About a week ago, I was disqualified by DODMERB for a "History of pervasive developmental disorders," and am now waiting to hear from several Service Academies, along with ROTC, for a waiver. My main goal is to get into West Point. I have already received a 4-Year ROTC scholarship, as well as two nominations for West Point, and a Letter of Encouragement (LOE) from West Point, which invited me for an overnight tour (which I took) and also informed me I am competitive for an offer of admission. Below is more information regarding the DQ circumstances.

I was diagnosed with mild Asperger's Syndrome at the age of 7. As I grew older, I realized that my diagnosis no longer applied to me. Since the old diagnosis no longer affected me, I requested a neuropsychological re-evaluation my junior year. This re-evaluation revealed no underlying conditions and eliminated my original diagnosis.

In addition to the above, I was inaccurately diagnosed with ADHD and ODD at 7. These were diagnosed from only an extremely brief visit with a doctor. The symptoms listed in my diagnosis were based on only an observational questionnaire filled out by parents. No tests were given to me, nor was my behavior observed by the doctor. Further, my parents never asked for a diagnosis in the first place. Regardless of this, both the ADHD and ODD diagnoses were negated in my recent re-evaluation. Neither diagnoses have ever applied to me in any way shape or form.

Unfortunately, DODMERB disqualified me simply due to my medical history, despite the fact that the old diagnoses clearly do not affect me in any way. Most sources I have read say the best thing to do in the case of a DQ is wait to hear back from the Academy/ROTC program. However, I want to do everything in my power to ensure I receive a waiver. I recently learned it is possible to request a rebuttal from DODMERB on a disqualification:

If you wish to rebut the disqualification, you need to collect as much information as possible which will support your position that the medical problem did not/does not exist/or will not exist when you enter West Point and submit it to DODMERB. This information could include statements from your Doctor, second opinions from another Doctor, statements from school officials ( candidate has not missed school because of the problem), or coaches( problem has not effected athletic performance). Submit any information that you feel might influence DODMERB to remove the disqualification. DODMERB will evaluate as this documentation is received and may order additional testing(either at a military hospital or at your expense), remove the disqualification, let the disqualification stand or let the disqualification stand but review status at a future date(for conditions which are 'temporary"). Even if DODMERB does not remove the disqualification, all pertinent information is contained in the DODMERB file and you can now work on getting a waiver.
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Does anyone have experience with submitting rebuttals and how the process works? I am willing to do whatever it takes to get a waiver; I am determined to go to West Point. Those who know me, be it my Sea Cadet instructors, teachers, mentors, or coaches, know I am extremely motivated and capable of excelling under pressure. It would be no problem to get a letter of recommendation from any of them. My achievements clearly show that I am capable of succeeding in a rigorous military environment. I regularly take part in rigorous military training through the Sea Cadets, play many different sports, and excel taking challenging academic courses and independent study at my school. I also hold many leadership positions in and out of school.

I understand that the DODMERB process is very black-and-white when it comes to these kinds of things. Nevertheless, as I said, I intend to do everything in my power to demonstrate my ability and gain a waiver. If any of you have knowledge of rebuttals and/or waivers, please advise me on how to proceed.
 
If you’d like, you may send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “cadet_candidate- SAF = DQ rebuttal.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.:wiggle:
 
For purposes of my discussion I will assume everything OP says is true. I believe him. And to further clear the table, I suspect Mr. Mullen cries every time he reads such a story and has to deal with those who have obviously been wronged. As I have written previously, I was a pediatrician from 1977-79 at the largest military reservation in the free world. Many children were brought in to be put on Ritalin as demanded by school administrators because of hyperactivity. I think 2 were actually hyperactive. Most were intelligent, often bored kids who would not sit quietly in their desks for 6 hours or more. Some had just moved in; others had their best friend be transferred out. Daddy was in the field for a month or Korea for 6. A new sibling. You get the point. Yet there were doctors ready to dish out Ritalin based on a 2 minute visit. (?kickbacks) Kids were LABLED with incorrect diagnoses which would come back to haunt them. What is normal? Does every "different" kid need a code? To increase the reimbursement or perhaps satisfy a nosy relative or intrusive, incompetent pseudo-educator the answer is often yes. Usually this scenario involves behavior or attentiveness but not always. I have seen, on this site, a 1 time episode of "asthma" at 3 years old be brought up. 99% sure this was, in fact, bronchiolitis, a viral disease, common in this age group, clinically similar to asthma. I am not the world's greatest physician, but I am an honest broker. Sometimes I am ashamed of my profession. Furthermore, try getting something erased from one's electronic medical record.
 
Hockey10 said:
For purposes of my discussion I will assume everything OP says is true. I believe him. And to further clear the table, I suspect Mr. Mullen cries every time he reads such a story and has to deal with those who have obviously been wronged. As I have written previously, I was a pediatrician from 1977-79 at the largest military reservation in the free world. Many children were brought in to be put on Ritalin as demanded by school administrators because of hyperactivity. I think 2 were actually hyperactive. Most were intelligent, often bored kids who would not sit quietly in their desks for 6 hours or more. Some had just moved in; others had their best friend be transferred out. Daddy was in the field for a month or Korea for 6. A new sibling. You get the point. Yet there were doctors ready to dish out Ritalin based on a 2 minute visit. (?kickbacks) Kids were LABLED with incorrect diagnoses which would come back to haunt them. What is normal? Does every "different" kid need a code? To increase the reimbursement or perhaps satisfy a nosy relative or intrusive, incompetent pseudo-educator the answer is often yes. Usually this scenario involves behavior or attentiveness but not always. I have seen, on this site, a 1 time episode of "asthma" at 3 years old be brought up. 99% sure this was, in fact, bronchiolitis, a viral disease, common in this age group, clinically similar to asthma. I am not the world's greatest physician, but I am an honest broker. Sometimes I am ashamed of my profession. Furthermore, try getting something erased from one's electronic medical record.
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Excellent post and thank you. I'm glad you wrote this and not me.
 
OP - I hope you are successful.
Our society is so quick to label and your story illustrates the negative effects of so so.
 
Hockey 10 - To help you feel better as a Peds Doc... We know that ADHD is the most over diagnosed and treated "condition" out there and take that into consideration in the evaluation. So while we have to apply the standards as written, we can also highlight issues to the waiver authorities for them to consider. There are two major concerns to what you allude to:

1) I've seen a "zillion" parents that browbeat Docs into prescribing the meds for all the reasons to wit you are familiar with.
2) We've seen Docs that for all the wrong reasons, Dx it when that wasn't part of the problem list...Pt presents with broken arm...gets casted and leaves with a script for ADHD meds
3) *** It is similar to the discussion now about COVID reporting...Did you come to the ER "FOR" COVID....or did you come to the ER because of an injury and was tested + WITH COVID.:wiggle:
 

cadet_candidate = Thanks for the email. Answered in depth. Also said I would post the following to close out the issue.​


Hockey10 =“There were more details in the back story that required DoDMERB to DQ, for the conclusive “history of” standard as medical screening, but the independent medical waiver authorities of the Big 3 Academies and AROTC will be able to review from the perspective of “current status and prognosis.”
 
Great. Am glad to see that the system can negate prior offences. You should send Mr. Mullen a bottle of Blue Johnny.
 
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