Peanut Allergy Waiver Denied - What Next?

[SuperTucano15]

Hi y'all
I'm currently a second year (MS2) non-contracted cadet in Army ROTC. Been going through the DoDMERB process for just over a year now to contract and receive a scholarship. I was disqualified for a couple of medical conditions, all of which were waiverable except for a peanut allergy. I underwent a blood (IgE) test, skin test, and ingestion test for AMI, but received a call from my PMS yesterday stating that he was told by his contacts at DoDMERB the waiver would be denied. My allergy has never been a problem for me, and was something they discovered when I was very little. I know it won't affect military service (agreed upon by every doctor I've visited plus every officer in cadre) but have struggled to prove it.

Another important detail to note is that my portal hasn't been updated nor have I been sent an official denial letter yet. It seems my PMS was able to get this information in advance.

What next? I understand you can appeal a waiver denial, but how/where do I do that? I am 100% determined to see this process through to the end and not ready to let this stop me from joining. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

I emailed the legendary MullenLE last friday but didn't post first. My mistake!

 

[MullenLE]

Send it again

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 Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “SuperTucano15- SAF = Peanut allergy waiver deined - What next?.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.

 

[SuperTucano15]

Send it again

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 Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “SuperTucano15- SAF = Peanut allergy waiver deined - What next?.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.

Thank you sir. Just sent.

 

[MullenLE]

Called and emailed a response

 

[dav1y]

Hey!

I saw your message on my profile, and I would've messaged you personally but it says I can't, so I'll just post this here.

I was diagnosed with an allergy when I was 2 or 3, so I completely avoided peanuts after that (also had to carry an EpiPen around at all times). When I turned 17 I had a blood test done and still tested positive for peanuts (my IgE level was a 0.7, which is quite low but anything above 0.3 is considered as an allergy if I remember correctly). I also had a skin reaction test (not sure what it was called, but the doctor basically just rubbed peanuts on my skin to see if I got a reaction) which I also failed. However, I decided to also have a food challenge test done (basically you just eat peanuts every 30-45 minutes for 3-4 hours and see if you get a reaction) and I passed, meaning that even though my blood levels and skin test technically showed that I am allergic to peanuts, I can eat them no problem and am not really allergic anymore. I am not sure what tests you have done, but if you have any questions at all feel free to ask!

On a side note, not sure if you know this already, but my allergist mentioned that the IgE levels do not exactly measure how allergic you are to peanuts, just how sensitive you are. For example, you might be very low on the IgE scale (meaning you might only get a reaction if you directly consume peanuts) but might have a very severe reaction (anaphylaxis, etc.). On the other hand, you might also be very high on the scale but have very mild symptoms. Just wanted to point this out as the IgE blood test might not be the best indicator as to how severe your allergy to peanuts is.

Hope this helped!

 

[Aztec Tiger]

Skin prick test, IgE lab test and an oral peanut consumption test. Those are the three gold standards that a candidate must sufficiently pass with the oral consumption being the most important, from my understanding.

And even then that’s not a guarantee to have a waiver granted.🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[flieger83]

I truly appreciate folks sharing their unique experiences with DODMERB and the waiver process, however...I'm one of those in the camp that says "every case is unique and ONLY a DODMERB expert can give an accurate answer to anyone here (that'd be Mr. Mullen.)"

My best friend in high school was the son of an AF Colonel (Dr. Matejka) who was, if I remember correctly, a DODMERB official. He "coached" me on how to fill out my forms. The one thing he kept emphasizing (and remember, my father was a USAF flight surgeon at USAFA) was: be honest and open. Let DODMERB know everything. They'll make the call. THEN the academy will work the process if you're a good candidate, if its necessary.

I still tell my candidates that.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

 

[MullenLE]

Roger all flieger83

OP has been emailed a response and received a call from me. He knows exactly what his status is now

 

[SuperTucano15]

Hey!

I saw your message on my profile, and I would've messaged you personally but it says I can't, so I'll just post this here.

I was diagnosed with an allergy when I was 2 or 3, so I completely avoided peanuts after that (also had to carry an EpiPen around at all times). When I turned 17 I had a blood test done and still tested positive for peanuts (my IgE level was a 0.7, which is quite low but anything above 0.3 is considered as an allergy if I remember correctly). I also had a skin reaction test (not sure what it was called, but the doctor basically just rubbed peanuts on my skin to see if I got a reaction) which I also failed. However, I decided to also have a food challenge test done (basically you just eat peanuts every 30-45 minutes for 3-4 hours and see if you get a reaction) and I passed, meaning that even though my blood levels and skin test technically showed that I am allergic to peanuts, I can eat them no problem and am not really allergic anymore. I am not sure what tests you have done, but if you have any questions at all feel free to ask!

On a side note, not sure if you know this already, but my allergist mentioned that the IgE levels do not exactly measure how allergic you are to peanuts, just how sensitive you are. For example, you might be very low on the IgE scale (meaning you might only get a reaction if you directly consume peanuts) but might have a very severe reaction (anaphylaxis, etc.). On the other hand, you might also be very high on the scale but have very mild symptoms. Just wanted to point this out as the IgE blood test might not be the best indicator as to how severe your allergy to peanuts is.

Hope this helped!

Thank you for your response! Thank you for sharing your experience. I was diagnosed at 2 or 3 as well, but I had a reaction to peanuts when I was around 7 years old, Avoided them successfully ever since (now 20 years old). Unfortunately, my IgE was 41 when I did the blood test for DoDMERB AMI, and I came up positive on the skin test too. As a result, the allergist didn't even want to do the ingestion test/food challenge for me.

You say "You might also be very high on the scale but have very mild symptoms" - do you think it's worth the risk to try an ingestion test now?

I'm currently undergoing oral ingestion therapy for peanuts to lower my sensitivity and it seems to be working. My IgE has already dropped to 34.1, and I am hoping that continuing OIT means I can get it lower in these coming months. My plan is to desensitize to the lowest possible IgE, then re-submit a blood test with a low IgE number OR a successful ingestion test so that my Army ROTC brigade surgeon will recommend a waiver to DoDMERB.

For anyone else with a peanut allergy going through DoDMERB, I will continue to post my progress and to see if this works! OIT may be a new hope for anyone with allergies trying to join, if I can pull this off.

 

[St.Katherine]

Thank you for your response! Thank you for sharing your experience. I was diagnosed at 2 or 3 as well, but I had a reaction to peanuts when I was around 7 years old, Avoided them successfully ever since (now 20 years old). Unfortunately, my IgE was 41 when I did the blood test for DoDMERB AMI, and I came up positive on the skin test too. As a result, the allergist didn't even want to do the ingestion test/food challenge for me.

You say "You might also be very high on the scale but have very mild symptoms" - do you think it's worth the risk to try an ingestion test now?

I'm currently undergoing oral ingestion therapy for peanuts to lower my sensitivity and it seems to be working. My IgE has already dropped to 34.1, and I am hoping that continuing OIT means I can get it lower in these coming months. My plan is to desensitize to the lowest possible IgE, then re-submit a blood test with a low IgE number OR a successful ingestion test so that my Army ROTC brigade surgeon will recommend a waiver to DoDMERB.

For anyone else with a peanut allergy going through DoDMERB, I will continue to post my progress and to see if this works! OIT may be a new hope for anyone with allergies trying to join, if I can pull this off.

DS’s waiver (DQ - Shrimp) was approved last April. There’s hope.

 

[dav1y]

Thank you for your response! Thank you for sharing your experience. I was diagnosed at 2 or 3 as well, but I had a reaction to peanuts when I was around 7 years old, Avoided them successfully ever since (now 20 years old). Unfortunately, my IgE was 41 when I did the blood test for DoDMERB AMI, and I came up positive on the skin test too. As a result, the allergist didn't even want to do the ingestion test/food challenge for me.

You say "You might also be very high on the scale but have very mild symptoms" - do you think it's worth the risk to try an ingestion test now?

I'm currently undergoing oral ingestion therapy for peanuts to lower my sensitivity and it seems to be working. My IgE has already dropped to 34.1, and I am hoping that continuing OIT means I can get it lower in these coming months. My plan is to desensitize to the lowest possible IgE, then re-submit a blood test with a low IgE number OR a successful ingestion test so that my Army ROTC brigade surgeon will recommend a waiver to DoDMERB.

For anyone else with a peanut allergy going through DoDMERB, I will continue to post my progress and to see if this works! OIT may be a new hope for anyone with allergies trying to join, if I can pull this off.

I think I would wait a bit for your OIT to show even more progress, and maybe then you take an ingestion test. My own allergist did warn me against the ingestion test, but ultimately it is up to you. However, I think OIT is definitely the best route for now (I was planning to do OIT up until I passed my ingestion test). Best of luck to you!