Medical Waivers

[Ange_craft]

I am wondering if anyone can tell me about the possibility of my son being denied his medical waiver but wanting to reapply and try again next year? We should know in the next week if his waiver is going to be approved or not but we are discussing other options. He was DQ’d for nut allergy. He is considering the self prep at MMI and then reapplying.

 

[Impulsive]

Check out the posts under the DoDMERB thread. They are pretty comprehensive about nut waivers.

 

[18Hopeful]

I am wondering if anyone can tell me about the possibility of my son being denied his medical waiver but wanting to reapply and try again next year? We should know in the next week if his waiver is going to be approved or not but we are discussing other options. He was DQ’d for nut allergy. He is considering the self prep at MMI and then reapplying.

The nut allergy is one of the hardest waivers to get. My DS was DQ for peanut/nut allergy. We worked with a local allergist to determine the severity of the allergy. He needed to know regardless of being permanently DQ'd for his own personal knowledge. Ultimately, DS had to perform the oral nut challenge after going through prick test and bloodwork. The allergist ran tests to ensure that it was safe to perform oral challenge. He passed the challenge and waiver was given. Any signs of a reaction which includes rash, hives, swelling, tingling of face/mouth, etc. is an automatic failure. Receiving a waiver from the Air Force or Navy for nut allergy is very difficult to obtain and you have to prove the allergy does not exist. I completely understand the reasoning behind their decision not to waive. I cannot speak for Army because DS did not apply. The whole process took about 3 months.

 

[Ange_craft]

I am wondering if anyone can tell me about the possibility of my son being denied his medical waiver but wanting to reapply and try again next year? We should know in the next week if his waiver is going to be approved or not but we are discussing other options. He was DQ’d for nut allergy. He is considering the self prep at MMI and then reapplying.

The nut allergy is one of the hardest waivers to get. My DS was DQ for peanut/nut allergy. We worked with a local allergist to determine the severity of the allergy. He needed to know regardless of being permanently DQ'd for his own personal knowledge. Ultimately, DS had to perform the oral nut challenge after going through prick test and bloodwork. The allergist ran tests to ensure that it was safe to perform oral challenge. He passed the challenge and waiver was given. Any signs of a reaction which includes rash, hives, swelling, tingling of face/mouth, etc. is an automatic failure. Receiving a waiver from the Air Force or Navy for nut allergy is very difficult to obtain and you have to prove the allergy does not exist. I completely understand the reasoning behind their decision not to waive. I cannot speak for Army because DS did not apply. The whole process took about 3 months.

Can you tell me more... was your DS positive for nuts on the skin and blood test? That’s great the oral challenge was passed. My son was positive on blood and skin however the allergist and his primary doctor wrote letters stating his allergy has not been severe and he is fully able to eat in the cafeteria style environments without issues. They are now asking for the oral challenge. It’s such a stressful process.
Thanks!

 

[18Hopeful]

I am wondering if anyone can tell me about the possibility of my son being denied his medical waiver but wanting to reapply and try again next year? We should know in the next week if his waiver is going to be approved or not but we are discussing other options. He was DQ’d for nut allergy. He is considering the self prep at MMI and then reapplying.

The nut allergy is one of the hardest waivers to get. My DS was DQ for peanut/nut allergy. We worked with a local allergist to determine the severity of the allergy. He needed to know regardless of being permanently DQ'd for his own personal knowledge. Ultimately, DS had to perform the oral nut challenge after going through prick test and bloodwork. The allergist ran tests to ensure that it was safe to perform oral challenge. He passed the challenge and waiver was given. Any signs of a reaction which includes rash, hives, swelling, tingling of face/mouth, etc. is an automatic failure. Receiving a waiver from the Air Force or Navy for nut allergy is very difficult to obtain and you have to prove the allergy does not exist. I completely understand the reasoning behind their decision not to waive. I cannot speak for Army because DS did not apply. The whole process took about 3 months.

Can you tell me more... was your DS positive for nuts on the skin and blood test? That’s great the oral challenge was passed. My son was positive on blood and skin however the allergist and his primary doctor wrote letters stating his allergy has not been severe and he is fully able to eat in the cafeteria style environments without issues. They are now asking for the oral challenge. It’s such a stressful process.
Thanks!

Yes, my son tested positive in the prick test and in his bloodwork. During the prick test he developed welts at the application site. Our allergist prepared our son he would test positive during the prick test. She explained that is common to test positive to allergen even if you have outgrown it. We then proceeded to the bloodwork and he was positive again. The doctor requested the bloodwork to be processed again and to break it down by proteins. I’m not sure what she was looking for but told us if a certain protein level came back low then it would be safe for a nut challenge.
The level came back low and then the oral challenge was scheduled. The oral challenge takes about 4 hours and the patient has to consume about 2 tablespoons of nuts in various levels with observations between spoonfuls. It is a stressful process.