spondylolysis waiver

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mxschool08

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I am applying to both the Naval Academy and Military Academy for the class of 2012. I have already been "academically and physically qualified" for both academies. I have a senator's nomination to the naval academy and am working on another congressional nomination to usma. My only hang up is medical. I had 2 lumbar stress fractures that i received playing football and wrestling during my junior year. For two months, I wore a brace and then did physical therapy until i regained the strength in my back. I attended summer seminar at navy and then did their rowing camp at the beginning of the summer without any pain. I havent had any pain since the middle of May and I have been very active since I was done with physical therapy. I run 4-5 miles every other day along with the equivalent of a week 6 plebe summer work out. I erg(indoor row) on the off days. My orthopedist said the injury would not recur, and that my right side stress fracture has healed to 85% and that it would continue, but my left was only at about 40%, but he expected it to get to 85% by this december and that was about as good as it would be. I have no limitations, and he said in his expert opinion, i should not have any trouble in any physical activity including a service academy. Dodmerb reviewed my file and asked for remedials, which i completed and sent in my doctor's records. My waiver was denied for West Point, but they were looking at the 40%/85% MRI so Im getting anew one this December and Im positive it will look much better. Aside from getting a new ortho recommendation, a personal recommendation, and a certified physical trainer recommendation, is there anything else that I can submit this december to make Dodmerb look more favorably on my waiver. Also, is there a better chance at a waiver with navy than with army? Any help in this situation would be awesome.
 
Spondylolysis of any degree is a very difficult waiver to obtain. You have a fracture of the spine, that may not heal 100% (as in your case). The waiver authorities try to guess how you will be 24 years from now, and how your condition will affect you.

Everything that you mention in your post would be relevant information for the waiver authorities, as well as a personal statement describing the condition (sort of what you have done here). If your new MRI shows progress then it may raise the chance of a waiver, but in my experience they are VERY difficult to obtain. Navy does not look at the waivers any differently than Army or Air Force does.

If this is what you want, I would continue to pursue the waiver, just make sure you have a back up if they do not come through. Also know that if you continue to heal, you can always try next year as well.
 
update

Agency: US Naval Academy
Admission Status Change Date: 24-JAN-2008
Current Medical Status: Medical waiver granted (as of 24-JAN-08 )
Code Description
D227.80 Spondylolysis, history of
D259.10 Waiver Approved - USNA

If you have any questions as to how to get spondylolysis passed, ask me, ill help you out.
 
Hey I just put in my DODMERB and Im having the same problem you had. History of spondylolysis was the disqualifying factor for approval. Now the medical officer at my NROTC unit says that what I should do is apply for a waiver. Its been years since Ive had any pain associated with my back and I've been doing ROTC for a full year now without any problems. What did you do to get your waiver?
 
Spondylolysis Waiver granted for NROTC!

Yeah! Finally! Followed RetNavyHM's advice on getting a waiver on spondylolysis. My son just got a waiver for NROTC! (didn't really want to believe it until the letter arrived.) Hopefully, waiver for USNA will follow soon!

Thanks, RetNavyHM for your guidance!:thumb:
 
Congrads to you, mx! And, once again, thanks for your tips on getting the spondolysis waiver. D is now a CGA Scholar, just finished orientation at the CGA (& loved it) and is off to Prep School at Marion Military Institute next week. That waiver was work to get, but your tips paid off, especially the personal letter saying how the condition has never caused any problems and how much she wants this. Good luck to you!
 
Hello all:

I have the same problem but I got surgery about 7 years ago.. and I haven't get any problems or pain at all. can anyone give me some advise? and also... how hard is to get a waiver for spondylolysis if want to be a militay aviator?
Thanks in advance..
 
Pls send me your full name and last 4 of your SSN "if" you've taken your DoDMERB exam already, otherwise, just cut and past your posting in an email to Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil. If you send today, I will answer tonight:thumb:
 
hey mxschool08, this is my first time posting, but I could use some help. I have been disqualified by DODMERB for a history of spondylolysis just recently. I had sent in remedial forms but they didn't do much. I wrote an email explaining my circumstances and why this injury should not be an issue for academy life. Any other tips in the stress fracture waiver process?
 
smm115 = Cut and past your posting; send me your full name and Last 4 of your SSN to Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil. I can assist you then. Send it after 7 PM MDT tonight (we have a scheduled power outage and the system is currently down.). I will reply before noon tomorrow.:thumb:
 
mxschool08 said:
Agency: US Naval Academy
Admission Status Change Date: 24-JAN-2008
Current Medical Status: Medical waiver granted (as of 24-JAN-08 )
Code Description
D227.80 Spondylolysis, history of
D259.10 Waiver Approved - USNA

If you have any questions as to how to get spondylolysis passed, ask me, ill help you out.
Click to expand...
My son is working on his application to the Naval Academy. He is has terrific grades, scored very high on the ACT, and is a great athlete. He attended the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Last year (Junior year) he placed 6th in the State wrestling tournament, He was starting linebacker for his high school football team, and he ran track. He lettered in all three sports. During his sophomore year he suffered from lower back pain about half way through the football season. X-ray was negative. A bone density scan showed unilateral pars defect at L5. It was just on one side. No displacement was present. He was placed in a brace for a few months. This was followed by physical therapy until he was pain free. He later played JV basket ball his Sophomore year. He has been very active in sports ever since and pain free. He reported all this when he completed the DODMERB questioner. We were just looking on the DODMERB site tonight, and his status was reported as "Remedial Required". This note was just posted today, so we haven't received a letter from DODMERB. No codes were noted. What will the remedial likely be? More doctor exams? Or just send in the old records from two years ago? We are hopeful that he can get a waiver, as he has been pain free for the last two years, and has played football, wrestling and track at a very competitive level. I contacted his orthopedic doctor who wrote a letter recommending that he be cleared to participate in athletic and military activities with no restrictions, as there is no likelihood that the pain or problem will recur. Do you think he can expect a waiver? Any encouraging words would be helpful. Thanks.
 
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