Medically Disqualified ? Experiences

[AdventureDad]

Update:
As it turns out, the scoliosis and asthma were no big deal, but they requested AMI for the eczema. He is now under waiver review. The doctor was not sure what the rash was, but the record does not reflect that. He only had the rash once and it cleared up in a couple of days with steroid cream. The examiner said the eczema was a misdiagnosis. Is there some way to explain that to the decision makers?

 

[scprepoh]

Update:
As it turns out, the scoliosis and asthma were no big deal, but they requested AMI for the eczema. He is now under waiver review. The doctor was not sure what the rash was, but the record does not reflect that. He only had the rash once and it cleared up in a couple of days with steroid cream. The examiner said the eczema was a misdiagnosis. Is there some way to explain that to the decision makers?

What do you mean the asthma was no big deal. Did the USCGA say something to that effect? Does your son currently have asthma? Did he have to submit any paperwork for asthma? My son is currently in the waiver process for reactive airway when he was younger. We are optimistic he will get a waiver, but are all very nervous until it is granted.

 

[Guppy]

Update:
As it turns out, the scoliosis and asthma were no big deal, but they requested AMI for the eczema. He is now under waiver review. The doctor was not sure what the rash was, but the record does not reflect that. He only had the rash once and it cleared up in a couple of days with steroid cream. The examiner said the eczema was a misdiagnosis. Is there some way to explain that to the decision makers?

My DS had a something similar happen for something that showed up in his records after submitting them for an AMI on a DQ. This flagged him for an additional DQ. Totally surprised us as DS had never been told he was diagnosed with this condition. We immediately thought this is a misdiagnosis or documentation error. We were advised by his doctor once something is written in a medical record and signed off it can’t be removed. What worked for us was asking for an addendum to his medical record for that particular visit stating that this was not an ongoing issue and no further treatment was needed. With DS the doctor advised it was general coding for symptoms presented at that visit. The doctor added the addendum, removed the problem from his chart so it no longer shows up ongoing in his records and DS wrote a personal statement explaining the facts which he included in the pdf sent to DoDMERB with his records. Hope this information helps.

 

[AdventureDad]

Also, could they fill up his class while he is waiting for a decision?

 

[AdventureDad]

My DS had a something similar happen for something that showed up in his records after submitting them for an AMI on a DQ. This flagged him for an additional DQ. Totally surprised us as DS had never been told he was diagnosed with this condition. We immediately thought this is a misdiagnosis or documentation error. We were advised by his doctor once something is written in a medical record and signed off it can’t be removed. What worked for us was asking for an addendum to his medical record for that particular visit stating that this was not an ongoing issue and no further treatment was needed. With DS the doctor advised it was general coding for symptoms presented at that visit. The doctor added the addendum, removed the problem from his chart so it no longer shows up ongoing in his records and DS wrote a personal statement explaining the facts which he included in the pdf sent to DoDMERB with his records. Hope this information helps.

That is very helpful. Will get to work on that today.

 

[AdventureDad]

What do you mean the asthma was no big deal. Did the USCGA say something to that effect? Does your son currently have asthma? Did he have to submit any paperwork for asthma? My son is currently in the waiver process for reactive airway when he was younger. We are optimistic he will get a waiver, but are all very nervous until it is granted.

He had one visit for reactive airway disease when he was 8 yo. I think the rules state you can’t have any attacks after 12yo. He didn’t have to submit any paperwork about that.

 

[ProudMom7]

Also, could they fill up his class while he is waiting for a decision?

If USCGA wants him for the class of 2027, they will offer him a conditional appointment. May 15th is the Medical Exam qualification/waiver deadline.

 

[scprepoh]

He had one visit for reactive airway disease when he was 8 yo. I think the rules state you can’t have any attacks after 12yo. He didn’t have to submit any paperwork about that.

Got it.

 

[takedown34]

Update:
As it turns out, the scoliosis and asthma were no big deal, but they requested AMI for the eczema. He is now under waiver review. The doctor was not sure what the rash was, but the record does not reflect that. He only had the rash once and it cleared up in a couple of days with steroid cream. The examiner said the eczema was a misdiagnosis. Is there some way to explain that to the decision makers?

My son has had the same issue regarding peanut allergy. It was mentioned that he was tested when he was little, but he was not allergic and never was (he reacted to egg once, which is what he put on his form). But the disqualification was for systemic reaction to peanut. He wrote a rebuttal letter asking for it to be re-reviewed by dodmerb because we feel they mis-read his application (they did, but he could have been a little more clear). He has never been allergic to peanut. Didn’t work unfortunately. It still has to go through waiver authority.

 

[kbat]

Each case is different, but a medical issue from age 10 with no lasting health concerns is something that has a high change of getting a waiver. However, I believe that CGA won't even start considering medical waivers until they have decided they want to offer the applicant an appointment. You don't say if your son has already received a conditional appointment or not. If he has, then they will be considering him for a waiver. And keep in mind that each year about 30% of the cadets who are offered appointments to CGA need medical waivers. If they have not yet offered him a conditional appointment, then they probably won't until they have reviewed his application and made a decision on whether they consider him highly competitive.
My daughter did not have this particular issue, but she was DQ'd for something that she was born with and had surgery for as a baby. Depending how this condition affected your son or whether it can sometimes cause lasting effects, they may ask for additional testing. Personally, we pre-emptively had testing done at our own expense to show that the prior condition was not a concern. We also asked an expert in the field to view her test results and medical files and they wrote a letter on her behalf explaining in detail why it would not impact her readiness or ability to perform in any way. This is definitely not always necessary, but due to the particulars of her case, we wanted CGA to have the full picture of her current medical status when they first began to consider her for a waiver.

When did you present the documentation and independent results? At Dodmerb initially, or after she was dq’d? Or both?

 

[ProudMom7]

When did you present the documentation and independent results? At Dodmerb initially, or after she was dq’d? Or both?

At first DODMERB sent her for a basic test. Without going into all her details, we knew that particular test was not the one that would be the most helpful. So we completed the requested test with the DODMERB doctor, but then immediately started scheduling the additional tests on our own and found an expert in that particular area to review her records and test results and to write a letter on her behalf. I can't remember when the DQ came in. I think it was before we completed and submitted the other information.

 

[AdventureDad]

Does anyone know when they let us know whether or not he gets the waiver?

 

[scprepoh]

Does anyone know when they let us know whether or not he gets the waiver?

Has the academy notified you they are pursuing a waiver? It is initiated by the academy.

 

[AdventureDad]

They are pursuing a waiver. He had one short episode of what was diagnosed as eczema. It has been at least a few weeks and we are on pins and needles. We were wondering when the decisions come down and if he will need to start working on a Plan B.

 

[ProudMom7]

They are pursuing a waiver. He had one short episode of what was diagnosed as eczema. It has been at least a few weeks and we are on pins and needles. We were wondering when the decisions come down and if he will need to start working on a Plan B.

According to CGA's calendar, May 15th is the medical waiver deadline. Obviously that is after the decision date of May 1st for other colleges. If it drags on past May 1st for your son, then he may want to go ahead and accept at his plan B. Many parents even put a deposit down at the Plan B school as a backup, considering it an "insurance policy" in case the waiver doesn't come or in case their child doesn't make it through swab summer for some reason. If that needs to be done, it is a good idea for your son to talk to Admissions at the Plan B school, letting them know their situation.

 

[justdoit19]

They are pursuing a waiver. He had one short episode of what was diagnosed as eczema. It has been at least a few weeks and we are on pins and needles. We were wondering when the decisions come down and if he will need to start working on a Plan B.

He should be working on a plan B, since day 1.

I posted earlier about an appointment that arrived June 22nd of my sons year.

Your son needs a backup plan. Everyone does.

 

[AdventureDad]

He has some other options, but we were hoping to avoid putting down deposits. Holding options open, even through swab summer, is good advice. I also have a better idea of the timeline. Thanks for the help!

 

[justdoit19]

He has some other options, but we were hoping to avoid putting down deposits. Holding options open, even through swab summer, is good advice. I also have a better idea of the timeline. Thanks for the help!

Yes, the deposit is always a conundrum. Sometimes, if you are upfront with the college, they will consider returning deposits. We had to pay for one of ours. And were happy to forfeit it when the appointment arrived in May.

 

[lanyc2026]

He has some other options, but we were hoping to avoid putting down deposits. Holding options open, even through swab summer, is good advice. I also have a better idea of the timeline. Thanks for the help!

One word of advice is to put the deposit on the best plan B option. We kept our plan B option open all the way through SWAB summer after receiving that advice on this forum! I considered it an "insurance" of sorts. There were just enough stories of cadets getting accepted but then leaving or being medically disqualified during (or right before) swab summer that made me feel good putting down a deposit just in case.

 

[AdventureDad]

My son just got his waiver! I really appreciate all the advice I got on this forum. I will be putting deposits down on Plan B anyway. I hope I can pay back the favor in the future.