Is it possible to contact the medical waiver authorities directly?

ProudMom7

USCGA Mom
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Related to my other posts, we think that my daughter's file is now being considered for a waiver because the status switched from "under waiver review" to "under dodmerb review" this afternoon. However, after her DQ last Friday we scheduled a visit to a urologist on our own (first we could get in was today), and she is now scheduled for a MAG3 renal scan tomorrow. The doctor is willing to write a letter for us stating that due to her history (a condition she had as a baby which she had surgery for and which has not been an issue since) that the items she was DQ'd for should not be a factor to her current or future health. However, he was waiting for the scan so he could have additional supporting evidence. This letter likely won't be in til next week since her scan isn't until tomorrow afternoon.

Is there any way for us to let the waiver committee/authorities who are looking at her file know that this additional test is being done and that an expert in the field will be submitting a letter with his expert opinion to support that she is healthy? My daughter emailed DODMERB (the POC for our last name) and let them know. Is there any other way to contact those who are considering her for a waiver? We will be devastated if the waiver committee denies her without asking for further tests and without getting the chance to look at the additional results and letter that will demonstrate that she is healthy.

We see that there is a DODMERB liaison for the Coast Guard Academy so my daughter will be emailing her directly. Any other advice?
 
I believe you can contact the medical staff at the academies, I'm not sure of the specifics outside of USNA though. However, in my experience, they take what you say with a grain of salt. For me, a treatment summary from my psychologist who I've been seeing for years wasn't good enough. They wanted to see all the notes to make their own determination. Might be different in your case, but good luck with your waiver!
 
Related to my other posts, we think that my daughter's file is now being considered for a waiver because the status switched from "under waiver review" to "under dodmerb review" this afternoon. However, after her DQ last Friday we scheduled a visit to a urologist on our own (first we could get in was today), and she is now scheduled for a MAG3 renal scan tomorrow. The doctor is willing to write a letter for us stating that due to her history (a condition she had as a baby which she had surgery for and which has not been an issue since) that the items she was DQ'd for should not be a factor to her current or future health. However, he was waiting for the scan so he could have additional supporting evidence. This letter likely won't be in til next week since her scan isn't until tomorrow afternoon.

Is there any way for us to let the waiver committee/authorities who are looking at her file know that this additional test is being done and that an expert in the field will be submitting a letter with his expert opinion to support that she is healthy? My daughter emailed DODMERB (the POC for our last name) and let them know. Is there any other way to contact those who are considering her for a waiver? We will be devastated if the waiver committee denies her without asking for further tests and without getting the chance to look at the additional results and letter that will demonstrate that she is healthy.

We see that there is a DODMERB liaison for the Coast Guard Academy so my daughter will be emailing her directly. Any other advice?



Start with Special Assistants/Medical. Your DD should make the call, be fully prepared, and be ready to talk with a senior Navy captain.
 
Capt MJ said:
...Your DD should make the call...

A very important point, in all aspects of this journey.

What I infer from the switch from "under waiver review' to "under DoDMERB riview", is that there exists the possibility that the waiver was already granted.
 
Her status switched back to "under waiver review" yesterday, so I guess we have no idea what is happening. I was able to get her in for the additional testing yesterday and the doctor wrote a detailed letter explaining why she the items that she was disqualified for are of no impact to her, and she emailed that to DODMERB. We also found a POC for the SA she is interested in and emailed them just in case (before we had the letter). I think at this point she is ok since we were able to get her tests done and the doctor wrote the letter for her very quickly.
 
I am also curious about the politics of the scholarship candidate contacting the waiver authorities directly. My DS is waiting on a waiver so as to qualify for a two-year brigade scholarship. As I understand it, the entity that would grant the waiver is Cadet Command Surgeon General. If he doesn't contract this semester, he's on the hook for a significant student loan.

I'd appreciate anyone's advice who has been in a similar situation. Thank you.
 
I am also curious about the politics of the scholarship candidate contacting the waiver authorities directly. My DS is waiting on a waiver so as to qualify for a two-year brigade scholarship. As I understand it, the entity that would grant the waiver is Cadet Command Surgeon General. If he doesn't contract this semester, he's on the hook for a significant student loan.

I'd appreciate anyone's advice who has been in a similar situation. Thank you.
The process for waivers and communication with DoDMERB is different if in an ROTC program (Brigade Scholarship) vs prior to enrolling in ROTC. Maybe moderator @AROTC-dad has a link to the process flow documents for DoDMERB that show this distinction.

If it were my child at college I would have them ask the HRA who in the Battalion (school) has access to follow up with DoDMERB or the Cadet Command Surgeon General staff. It is likely at least two staff at the Battalion (school) have access to follow up if the waiver was initiated by the ROTC department. They should be able to make the calls to Cadet Command.
 
@Whats_my_MOS Thanks. Those are the documents I was describing. There is another process flow that differentiates the waiver process when applying from within an ROTC program rather than as a scholarship applicant. It's similar to the medical determination process when a cadet is injured. In either case reaching out through the chain of command, if one exists, is generally the first option. - For Army ROTC that would be HRA, ROO, PMS .
 
The doctor is willing to write a letter for us stating that due to her history (a condition she had as a baby which she had surgery for and which has not been an issue since) that the items she was DQ'd for should not be a factor to her current or future health.

I am not a Doctor, and try to avoid any discussion of Medical issues with my candidates, but two comments:

1) First, being proactive and getting a second opinion, or further examination to evaluate a condition is fine, but the focus should be defining whether or not the condition exists. I would expect that you have a much better shot at being qualified if you can show misdiagnosis rather than making an argument that the condition will not be a factor in the future.

2) The argument that a condition won't have any future affect is probably more relevant to a waiver. If your Doctor makes the that statement, I would suggest that he /she set forth the scope of examination and facts supporting that conclusion.

3) Finally, I see a lot of comments on this Forum to the effect that its silly to disqualify a very qualified candidate because of a minor medical condition. The fact is there is a reason for each of the medical standards, although one could argue that some are outdated because of modern treatments, etc., However, the bottom line is they are drafted for the good of the Service, and like it or not, we have to live with those rule. I know that we lose some good candidates every year to Medical disqualification, but the hard truth is that there are other, fully qualified candidates available to take their place. (Of course, as has been discussed in other threads, the military as a whole is struggling to fill the ranks with medically qualified recruits).
 
A statistic given an a service academy forum we attended last summer was “truth be told, ONLY 30 pct of the population is medically qualified” to serve. Fascinating to think about!
 
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