Received LOA-Med disqual

[HiMyNameisNick]

to the OP... How did you get a LOA so early? you must be really really really well qualified to get a LOA before they even meet to review. You have a perfect GPA?

 

[2012mom?]

with respect to LOAs and medical waivers: My daughter was in possession of an LOA to USNA by the September/October three years ago. Her medical waiver did not come through until WAY later than that - long story. The two processes are, in fact different. Doctors stationed at USNA review each waiver package, and they make the recommendation to accept/reject the waiver. If they do NOT grant a waiver, it is possible to ask for a re-evaluation, but to get it, you'd better have some really good reason (strong evidence that demonstrates that the case should be reconsidered). The final decision (at least in my daughter's case) to overturn the original decision and grant the waiver was made by the Supe.

Will an LOA help with a waiver? Sort of. From what USNA medical told us, the stronger the candidate, the sooner their medical waiver decision will be reviewed.

 

[jomass]

LASIK surgery is not approved as an acceptable vision correction by the Navy. I don't think any SA allows eye surgery prior to admittance. PRK is the only procedure accepted and approved by the Navy after you are admitted. After review, by Navy Medical, a MID may be authorised PRK during the 2/c or 1/c year after vision stabilization. There are a lot of Busses taking the 2/c and 1/c to Bahesdsa on Saturdays for their PRK and followups. LASIK requires a flap cut out of the cornea which, in the Navy's current opinion, might under high G and/or if during remote shipboard assignments become detached and create a vision problem which could not be addressed without EVAC. It is still undergoing review and may change. If you really need the best information contact Mr. Mullen. He is the best with the up to date info.

AF6872...please re-read my post. I didn't mention eye surgery BEFORE admission; I mentioned that I'd heard that the USNA will pay for eye surgery while you are there. (Whether it's LASIK, PRK, or some other one I don't know).
That being the case...my point is why are people disqualified based on eyesight, if all will eventually be corrected via this eye surgery?? It's a moot argument.

 

[wiscyellowjacket]

to the OP... How did you get a LOA so early? you must be really really really well qualified to get a LOA before they even meet to review. You have a perfect GPA?

I am not the OP, but I too have recieved a LOA from the Naval Academy. It was dated August 24th. I do not have a perfect GPA, but I did have all of my application materials in by July 20th. My CFA is only dependant on a nomination since I have done everthing else, and am medically qualified.

 

[2012mom?]

AF6872...please re-read my post. I didn't mention eye surgery BEFORE admission; I mentioned that I'd heard that the USNA will pay for eye surgery while you are there. (Whether it's LASIK, PRK, or some other one I don't know).
That being the case...my point is why are people disqualified based on eyesight, if all will eventually be corrected via this eye surgery?? It's a moot argument.

Ah, but it's NOT a moot point. Not all vision deficiencies can be corrected by PRK surgery (that's what is approved, not LASIK). It is possible for a person to have vision that is not "bad enough" to risk having the surgery, or their vision could be too bad to be corrected to within limits. Color blindness would be another vision deficiency that's not correctable. I'm not sure if astigmatism can be corrected, either.

 

[kp2001]

That being the case...my point is why are people disqualified based on eyesight, if all will eventually be corrected via this eye surgery?? It's a moot argument.

There are multiple reasons why eyesight continues to be a disqualifier:
1)We (the Navy) gets to be selective. There are more people who want to be officers from many accession sources than are needed, so we get to set the standards that help ensure the ability to complete operational assignments.

2)The medical standards for eyesight for commissioning are +/- 8 diopters. This is huge. I was -6 and basically couldn't see squat beyond about a foot. Imagine what another 2 diopters is. Worse than 8 diopters of refractive error can be from any number of reasons, but it is also usually an indicator of other, or future, eye problems.

3)PRK/LASIK is usually not done on people with prescriptions that severe. The reason is due to corneal thickness and other associated issues that can lead to poor outcomes.

Remember, if you have poor eyesight you can be a candidate for refractive surgery, if done in the Navy you would be eligible for benefits if something went wrong. Why should the Navy take the risk of paying someone millions of dollars over their life on disability when they can simply be selective and not take them in the first place?

It's not "fair", we probably lose some great future officers due to some medical issues, but in reality it is for the best of the service. Not everything has a reason that is obvious.

 

[usna candidate]

to the OP... How did you get a LOA so early? you must be really really really well qualified to get a LOA before they even meet to review. You have a perfect GPA?

As you most likely know, it's not all about GPA. They want a well rounded student, but I do have a 4.0 on a weighted scale. For example, I have made 3 B's(2 in AP classes, and 1 in an honors class). The way the service academies evaluate a candidate is through 3 tiers:

1. GPA/Class Rank/SAT or ACT's (60%)

2. Leadership (30%)

3. Athletecism and CFA (10%)

So as you can see, intelligence does have a lot to do with it, but that's not all they look at.