Slightly High Cholestrol

My point is (a) the regulation is not for us to interpret.
Those are the instructions given to the applicants, how would it not be for the applicants to interpret? Why would they give the applicants instructions if they are not for the applicants to read and interpret? The instructions are extremely clear: "the conditions listed in this enclosure are those that do
NOT meet the standard by virtue of current diagnosis, or for which the candidate has a verified
past medical history."
The list being all of the possible DQ's. If the OP does not have a current diagnosis or past medical history for this, how can he have a DQ for this?
It actual says 'any injury, illness or surgery....'


What is "It"?
 
OP said:
I took a blood test and results came in that I had slightly higher cholesterol or above the normal range. Will this be a disqualification?
Slightly higher or Above normal cholesterol is not a diagnosis. What you really need to know is what was the physician's diagnosis. You do not need to report the test results. If the Dr. said your cholesterol is slightly high you should watch it. Then there is nothing to report. But if the Dr. diagnosed High Cholesterol or prescribed medication to control cholesterol then it probably should be reported.

I do agree that the best course of action would have been not to go to the doctors unless medically necessary. For anyone considering going to the doctors it in your best interest to manage your physician. Get the treatment required, but without extensive testing a family physician, in most cases, cannot be 100% positive of a diagnosis. Use this fact to manage their diagnosis it minimize dodmerb issues.
 
I do agree that the best course of action would have been not to go to the doctors unless medically necessary.

The OP may have not yet visited a doctor.



What you really need to know is what was the physician's diagnosis.
I disagree, if the OP has not yet visited a physician, he should not go and try to find out a diagnosis. If he gets a diagnosis he could be DQ'd. As he stands now, he cannot be DQ'd because he lacks a current diagnosis or past medical history.
 
^^ geez dude get over yourself.
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@frenzymando I agree. I assumed he went to the Dr. and the Dr. told him his about his cholesterol. We just do not have enough facts to give good definitive guidance.
 
'It' - DDs application portal

'It' makes no reference to the regulation you cite

Per your comment to 5Day - she pointed out (paraphrasing) that if OP or anyone else has or will see a doctor there is a pro-active approach to work with/manage what gets written down and still receive appropriate medical care

We are trying to help people understand the process and its pitfalls - not just the OP's but others as well. This is commonly referred to as a teaching moment

I am not sure what your objective is

Please PM if you want to continue and i will happily ignore it.

Also think of three blood tests outside of the diabetic's home blood testing that is not prescribed by a doctor

It is very reasonable to assume the blood test was ordered by a doctor and the doctor had the results before the OP
 
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'It' - DDs application portal
I am not sure what your objective is
My objective is provide the OP solid advice. What is your goal?

'It' - DDs application portal

'It' makes no reference to the regulation you cite
The DoDMERB website does, which is the place that decides DQ's. If you are referring to the WP candidate portal, I checked every medical thing it mentioned and I could not find the words "any injury, illness or surgery" pop up. It would be greatly appreciated if you could provide me the link to the document you are referring to.

'It' - DDs application portal
We are trying to help people understand the process and its pitfalls - not just the OP's but others as well. This is commonly referred to as a teaching moment

And in a teaching moment you can learn as well. I have cited the DoDMERB instructions, and from I can deduce, they disagree with you and agree with me. You are acting like I'm a criminal for providing information that backs up my case. I am trying to help the OP, and you are criticizing me for holding an opinion that differs from yours.

Ad hominem comments do nothing to contribute to helping the OP.

www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/613003p.pdf

This is the document that I have cited.
 
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It is very reasonable to assume the blood test was ordered by a doctor and the doctor had the results before the OP
And is it not very reasonable to assume that the blood test was not conducted by the doctor? The fact of the matter is we do not know the OP has been diagnosed by a doctor or not.
 
Once the appointment has been made, the controlling authority is no longer DoDMERB. The controlling authority is now the SA and those are the instructions to follow.

Again - process and pitfalls

OP has successfully completed a process and has now done something that could easily be interpreted by the controlling authority as a step that now needs repeated because of his actions
 
Once the appointment has been made, the controlling authority is no longer DoDMERB. The controlling authority is now the SA and those are the instructions to follow.
I don't mean this to be aggressive and I apologize if it comes off that, but where are you getting this information? Do you work for DoDMERB/a service academy? I do not. All of the information I know about DoDMERB is based off of what I have read online (mostly on this forum), and therefore isn't necessarily accurate. That being said, if I am interpreting what I have read online correctly, everything I have read online points to you being horribly wrong.


http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/knee-injury-help.32636/
The OP is an appointee in this thread^
post #11: "That might not be what you want to hear at this point, but it is very important that you do report your injury (first to DODMERB, then anyone who asks)."

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/medical-disqualification.16265/
post #5: the writer of which was the deputy director of DoDMERB "If you do, let Admissions and DoDMERB know immediately"

http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/pre-plebe-summer-injury.2915/
post #1, another post by a former deputy director of DoDMERB: "You are required to notify DoDMERB of the injury, hospitalization/treatment, and overall description of the status of your injury."


Is there some inside source that you have that is telling you something different from what I am reading?
 
I think many of those arguing on this forum are starting from the wrong perspective. DoDMERB and the medical process is there for a reason, and it is not to weed out individuals. It is there for the safety of the individual and potentially the safety of those that they are going to lead.

1. Do not discourage seeking medical attention because it may preclude someone from gaining/retaining admission. Having a mechanic check out that funny sound under the hood may cost you a ton in labor, but it is a lot cheaper than waiting for something to fail that could cause a more expensive problem or an accident. That elevated cholesterol level may be nothing, but it could be a sign of heart disease and with a couple years of high stress, little sleep, and questionable food choices could turn that into a heart attack. Who in your future platoon on the side of a mountain in ****holistan is capable of treating that?

2. You, your parents, and your doctor are most likely not qualified to make the determination of what is serious and what is not. You can't even rely on most Army docs to write a decent profile, how is someone not even associated with the military going to know what is serious. That is why it is said to report any possible change. Yes, it may preclude you from attending this year if a waiver is not possible due to time; however, unless you are about to turn 23, there is the opportunity to reapply next year and work that waiver process so your condition can be properly evaluated. What is a year in terms of a lifetime?

3. For those they don't listen to what the current CSA and SMA are saying (99% of the people outside of the military and probably way too high of a percentage of those in the Army too), they have one overriding priority - Readiness. Too much of the Army cannot deploy, primarily for medical reasons, and as the size continues to come down, it hurts us more. Many of those individuals have been around awhile, it not so much the young recruits. The Army is not kind to the body - what may seem insignificant for you now, the Army owns for 9+ years if you go to West Point. If I only have 7 or 8 captains in my battalion and one of them is not deployable, that leaves a serious gap in capability. What if that captain is a low density support type - Signal, MI, AG - that doesn't have an alternate in my unit to cover down? Your hopes, dreams, desires are not as important as where you fit into the bigger picture. No one will be a failure in life if they can't get into West Point, they just need to look into other ways to serve and excel outside of the military. The Army is going to get a lot tougher/stricter on waivers for the next few years. Not just for the immediate impact, but looking long term at the success of the Army knowing everyone of those 400,000-something individuals has an important task somewhere to do that they cannot afford to leave them on the injured reserves.
 
Wow! Just wow! One "slightly elevated" lab test does not make a diagnosis nor a trend and no decision should be based on this ONE test. There are many other factors that should be looked at, including the OP's history of which should be between the OP and his provider.

For all the others that have been appointed or are soon to be applying, once your DoDMERB exam is over and you are qualified, DO NOT PROCEED TO GET ROUTINE LABS DONE just to look see where you are it. It is not necessary and could bring up all sorts of questions as in the OP's case. Unless you acquire an illness (and I don't mean a cold), you become injured or need surgery, just don't do it.
 
There are so many cadets here with worse issues. If you do self refer your high cholesterol, just get medicated and get a waiver. I've gone to the cadet clinic because stress drove my BP over 170, I've got buddies with issues blacking out, loss of hearing, etc... You'd be surprised what persistence and a waiver can do.
 
There are so many cadets here with worse issues. If you do self refer your high cholesterol, just get medicated and get a waiver. I've gone to the cadet clinic because stress drove my BP over 170, I've got buddies with issues blacking out, loss of hearing, etc... You'd be surprised what persistence and a waiver can do.
OMG. Not everyone with high cholesterol needs medication, and certainly not for one slightly elevated cholesterol result. This is bad advice. OP, if you are concerned, talk to your physician and heed HIS/HER advice, not the mutterings of posters here on this forum. It could very well land you in trouble.
 
You can easily lower your cholesterol by eating oatmeal every morning and cutting the junk food like pizza, fast foods, ice cream or any pogey bait.
 
OMG. Not everyone with high cholesterol needs medication, and certainly not for one slightly elevated cholesterol result. This is bad advice. OP, if you are concerned, talk to your physician and heed HIS/HER advice, not the mutterings of posters here on this forum. It could very well land you in trouble.
I should clarify: Follow all directions of the doctor. What I wrote was more in line with if your doctor does choose to diagnose you with an issue that you have to self report. If you do report, like I said, put together a waiver and you should be A okay. I'm far from a doctor, I wasn't posting to recommend medication but more along the lines of diagnosis/meds or not a waiver should get you in.
 
I took a blood test and results came in that I had slightly higher cholesterol or above the normal range. Will this be a disqualification?

For all you West Point Appointees, I understand that USMA requires you to send in your Blood Type (which may be the reason for the OP's test) before you show up for R-day.

I was shocked to discover many kids (including mine) have no record of actual Blood Type.

I know a Father and his newly appointed DS that did something to avoid getting a blood test (to know his Blood Type) through the Doctor. The Father deferred doing the test thru a lab (to determine Blood Type, etc.); after the Doctor gave the kid his shots , they then went over to the Blood Bank were the DS donated Blood. The Blood Bank typed his Blood for free and he did a community service.

No medical drawing was done. I learned this yesterday when the father and I bumped into one another.
 
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I know our son's blood type was recorded in his birth records which were easy enough to check. Just a suggestion if you have access to those.
 
The immunization record requires proof of blood type which is from a blood test.
 
The immunization record requires proof of blood type which is from a blood test.
Finding your blood type has nothing to do with your cholesterol level. If you don't need routine lab tests, don't get them. If you need to know your blood type, only get that test and nothing more.
 
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