Environmental Allergies

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Future968

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Joined
Mar 29, 2022
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23
I have had a history of mild seasonal environmental allergies after the age of 12. I never have had any troubles of breathing and only get nose congestion. I have also had several sinus infections but got a surgery at 15 and those stopped. Would I get DQ for this or need a wavier.
 
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 posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “Future968- SAF =Environmental allergies.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.:wiggle:
 
@Future968 , Mr. Mullen is THE AUTHORITY for this, so take him up on his offer.

I was disqualified with a history of Allergic Rhinitis - better known as symptoms occur when you breathe in something you are allergic to, such as dust, animal dander, or pollen. Pre-internet, the condition Allergic Rhinitis was about the scariest thing an applicant could hear because I had no idea what it was, nor had I thought I had ever been diagnosed with this "condition." I was just a kid with normal allergies to grass and pollen. The minute I received a medical disqualification because of sneezing... well it felt like my entire future was over before it even started. Clearly, it was not the end - but it sure felt like it.

Any DoDMERB disqual feels like the end if the world. However, having seen a few things and many admissions cycles, medical disqualifications are far more common than I had originally assumed. In oversimplified language, DoDMERB is in place to evaluate the candidate against a regulation that defines the heath characteristics that compose the typical member of the US Armed Forces. A disqual simply means the candidate did not conform to the gigantic definition and there is a waiver process that can then occur to determine if this candidate can be allowed to proceed. DoDMERB is not the waiver authority. Each school will review and then decide on a waiver. Applicants may find that they received a waiver from USMA but not USAFA. In general, waiver review is typically only pursued for competitive candidates because of limited resources to work on these case reviews. If you think about it, the time to review every applicant case would not be a good use of time considering they can only allow ~1100 applicants into a class with more than 10,000 applying. Just like medical disqualifications being more common than one would think, waivers are also generally common - but understand some conditions are not waiverable. The branch of service determines where they draw the line. In years past, a peanut allergy would have been considered non waiverable, but now with more knowledge and treatments for the condition, some cases are waived. Similarly, something that would have been waived in the past now may be non waiverable.

Bottom line - trust the process and work with Mr. Mullen for the definitive answer. Medical is tricky because we generally cannot change the condition or history - it is what it is. Every case is different and you may hear of someone here on SAF that has "the exact same condition" and their outcome was different.

In my case (many years ago - understand that everything changes), I was asked to get a doctors note indicating that I was ok with over the counter meds and I could stop taking prescription meds/shots for seasonal allergies. Letter sent in = waiver granted.... But.... I really don't think that was required. Why you ask? Well, during INDOC, you go through a number of stations to include a medical records review. At that station, they said "I see you have a history of nasal allergies. Would you like a prescription for that?" I was shocked and responded with a quick "NO!" I felt as if allergies almost cost me a chance at my dream school and considering the letter I was asked to send in, this felt like a trick question.... I am sure it was nothing sprinkled with a little misinformation.

Best of luck in your pursuit!
 
Thank y
shiner said:
@Future968 , Mr. Mullen is THE AUTHORITY for this, so take him up on his offer.

I was disqualified with a history of Allergic Rhinitis - better known as symptoms occur when you breathe in something you are allergic to, such as dust, animal dander, or pollen. Pre-internet, the condition Allergic Rhinitis was about the scariest thing an applicant could hear because I had no idea what it was, nor had I thought I had ever been diagnosed with this "condition." I was just a kid with normal allergies to grass and pollen. The minute I received a medical disqualification because of sneezing... well it felt like my entire future was over before it even started. Clearly, it was not the end - but it sure felt like it.

Any DoDMERB disqual feels like the end if the world. However, having seen a few things and many admissions cycles, medical disqualifications are far more common than I had originally assumed. In oversimplified language, DoDMERB is in place to evaluate the candidate against a regulation that defines the heath characteristics that compose the typical member of the US Armed Forces. A disqual simply means the candidate did not conform to the gigantic definition and there is a waiver process that can then occur to determine if this candidate can be allowed to proceed. DoDMERB is not the waiver authority. Each school will review and then decide on a waiver. Applicants may find that they received a waiver from USMA but not USAFA. In general, waiver review is typically only pursued for competitive candidates because of limited resources to work on these case reviews. If you think about it, the time to review every applicant case would not be a good use of time considering they can only allow ~1100 applicants into a class with more than 10,000 applying. Just like medical disqualifications being more common than one would think, waivers are also generally common - but understand some conditions are not waiverable. The branch of service determines where they draw the line. In years past, a peanut allergy would have been considered non waiverable, but now with more knowledge and treatments for the condition, some cases are waived. Similarly, something that would have been waived in the past now may be non waiverable.

Bottom line - trust the process and work with Mr. Mullen for the definitive answer. Medical is tricky because we generally cannot change the condition or history - it is what it is. Every case is different and you may hear of someone here on SAF that has "the exact same condition" and their outcome was different.

In my case (many years ago - understand that everything changes), I was asked to get a doctors note indicating that I was ok with over the counter meds and I could stop taking prescription meds/shots for seasonal allergies. Letter sent in = waiver granted.... But.... I really don't think that was required. Why you ask? Well, during INDOC, you go through a number of stations to include a medical records review. At that station, they said "I see you have a history of nasal allergies. Would you like a prescription for that?" I was shocked and responded with a quick "NO!" I felt as if allergies almost cost me a chance at my dream school and considering the letter I was asked to send in, this felt like a trick question.... I am sure it was nothing sprinkled with a little misinformation.

Best of luck in your pursuit
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
MullenLE said:
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 posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “Future968- SAF =Environmental allergies.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.:wiggle:
Click to expand...
Thank you for relying I will reach out to you later! 😊
 
"Every case is different and you may hear of someone here on SAF that has "the exact same condition" and their outcome was different."

That is the exact reason why I don't publicize my communiques with applicants:wiggle:
 
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