DQd Today

[A6E Dad]

Today a pulmonologist conduct a pulmonary function test. His score was normal with an FEV1 of 114%.

My question is....he hasnt been notified about a waiver for either service academies or ROTC Scholarships. Should this additional documentation be sent to Dodmerb to be added to his file?

Yes, you should certainly send in that add'l info. The test results on their own will be very helpful, but the doctor's notes are more so. Going through this process with our DS, i became more of an expert on PFT numbers that i cared to be. I learned that there are few real hard and fast rules regarding the numbers by themselves, and that the doctor's opinion, considering all the info (test, history, examination, etc) is the most important. Assuming the doctor added notes re: the test, and stated that there is not diagnosis of asthma or other RAD, that is the best evidence you can sent.
It can be useful to show the pulmonologist the DOD 6130 standard, so that he/she can use the proper language to leave no doubt.

 

[ChoirDude]

Hi ChoirDude, have you heard anything? Did you end up sending the additional documentation? My DD was DQd on Sept 10th for history of asthma, we weren't surprised and expected it. Dodmerb says it is Under Waiver Review and I am wondering if we should go ahead and send in her prescription history which I received last week. It shows she hasn't had a refill in over 2 years and at that time it was only filled as a precaution. Wasn't thinking service academies at the time!

My son received word that West Point has requested a waiver on his behalf. We are just in holding pattern until it gets reviewed by docs at WP and if so, then DOBMERB will let us know what else they want. Naval Academy portal doesn't indicate a waiver has been requested...just that his file is Pending Review. DOBMERB shows Under Waiver Review for West Point, USNA and Air Force. I believe that I read somewhere that this statement doesn't mean that the service academy has requested a waiver...only that it's up to each service academy to ask for one if they feel you are competitive for appointment.

Just taking it one day at a time and praying that all things will resolve in his favor.

 

[HawkeyeMom]

My son received word that West Point has requested a waiver on his behalf. We are just in holding pattern until it gets reviewed by docs at WP and if so, then DOBMERB will let us know what else they want. Naval Academy portal doesn't indicate a waiver has been requested...just that his file is Pending Review. DOBMERB shows Under Waiver Review for West Point, USNA and Air Force. I believe that I read somewhere that this statement doesn't mean that the service academy has requested a waiver...only that it's up to each service academy to ask for one if they feel you are competitive for appointment.

Just taking it one day at a time and praying that all things will resolve in his favor.

Any updates? DD is DQ'ed for an as needed inhaler prescription her 13th year (she didn't use it). She has gathered 3 letters from her family practice, pulmonologist (she did the methacholine challenge test and it was negative), and her allergist and all state she does not have asthma. Did you call the DoDMERB technician? Where did you send your child's additional medical documentation? Thanks!

 

[ChoirDude]

Hawkeye Mom...my son just received written notification from West Point that his waiver was granted. His portal has been updated with the same information as well as DODMerb portal. USNA portal does not mention if a waiver has been requested nor does DODMerb have an update beside "Under Waiver Review". Same goes for USAFA. Haven't heard anything from ROTC Scholarships regarding his being DQ'd. We only communicated with the DOBMerb liaison who emailed status updates throughout the process. I cannot recall her actual title. All documentation we provided was sent to her attention with the request it be added to her DODMerb file.

 

[HawkeyeMom]

Hawkeye Mom...my son just received written notification from West Point that his waiver was granted. His portal has been updated with the same information as well as DODMerb portal. USNA portal does not mention if a waiver has been requested nor does DODMerb have an update beside "Under Waiver Review". Same goes for USAFA. Haven't heard anything from ROTC Scholarships regarding his being DQ'd. We only communicated with the DOBMerb liaison who emailed status updates throughout the process. I cannot recall her actual title. All documentation we provided was sent to her attention with the request it be added to her DODMerb file.

Thanks so much for the additional information and congratulations to your son for clearing one hurdle. Hopefully, the next two will be cleared as well!

 

[militarymom2020]

Question #59 asks "HAVE YOU EVER HAD OR DO YOU NOW HAVE" acne. If someone has acne now or ever has had acne (however minor) being honest says you answer "yes" to the question. A simple personal remedial statement on DoDMERB's form will clarify that the acne problem in question will have no effect on training, and he should be qualified without additional records or DQ's. @NJROTC-CC, IMHO, I unfortunately do not agree with you statement "My DS has some pimples, but my story - - and I am sticking to it - - is that he DOES NOT have a a "long term skin disease" as I understand that term. So the answer to Question No. 59 will be a very honest "NO". If he has too many pimples on the day of his DoDMERB exam, the doctors can deal with it as they see fit". It isn't what the examiner thinks, it is what may happen during initial training, maintaining grooming standards or wearing clothing or protective gear that may be an issue. And just FYI, be VERY careful using Wikipedia as it is not an acceptable source for referencing, people like you and I can modify, write "facts" and change the terms without any concrete evidence. That is why it is totally unacceptable for research papers or other scholastic or medical reference. The Mayo Clinic say "acne signs vary depending on the severity. 1. whiteheads, 2. blackheads, 3 papules, 4 pimples etc, etc". There is no mention of "long term skin disease" anywhere in the diagnosis or symptom sections.

Unless you are a doctor or a dermatologist, you are probably not qualified to say that as a universal statement, if Y then the correct answer is X. The candidate may have such a minor case and it be so intermittent that it is not going to be an issue, but to tell people listening here to ignore a possible problem, or make their own diagnosis is asking for future problems. Better to be forthright, do a remedial, have it in the record, and then not have to worry about it. Everyone is free to do as they want in answering DoDMERB questions, but I think to give advice based on Wikipedia is not prudent recommended advice. If in doubt use WebMD, TheMayoClinic, or the Physicians Reference Manual, those sites cannot be modified or added to by other than someone who is a doctor or research PhD.

I totally agree with you ! What teenage kid has not had acne in high school?

 

[MullenLE]

The FACT ANSWERS are:

1. It is more than an appropriate question to ask of this target audience.
2. Simple acne is NOT DQ.
3. These are DQ:

a. Severe nodulocystic acne, on or off antibiotics.
b. Applicants under treatment with systemic retinoids, including, but not limited to isotretinoin (Accutane), do not meet standards until 4 weeks after completing therapy.

 

[ChoirDude]

Hi ChoirDude, have you heard anything? Did you end up sending the additional documentation? My DD was DQd on Sept 10th for history of asthma, we weren't surprised and expected it. Dodmerb says it is Under Waiver Review and I am wondering if we should go ahead and send in her prescription history which I received last week. It shows she hasn't had a refill in over 2 years and at that time it was only filled as a precaution. Wasn't thinking service academies at the time!

USMA initiated the waiver review on behalf of DS. About 6 weeks later his portal updated that the waiver was approved. We provided the prescription history to DODMERB via an email to the contact that had been emailing. All additional documentation (statements and results from pulomary function test) went through her. Note: The pulmonary function test was not requested. We decided to get it done as it can take a while to get into a specialist for an visit and didnt want to delay processes.

 

[MullenLE]

Is there a question?