spondylolysis waiver

I've been traveling. "If" you sent me this in an email, I'll answer this weekend. "If" not, send me your posting, your full name, last 4 SSN to Larry.Mullen@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil. I can assist U better from there :thumb:
 
mxschool08 said:
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.
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hey plz if you can post on here whether you were able to get the waiver because i have almost the exact same thing and im not sure how good my chances will be im looking to join the army but either way i know ill need a waiver or if its even possible for me so this will be of great help! thank you
 
Anderson said:
hey plz if you can post on here whether you were able to get the waiver because i have almost the exact same thing and im not sure how good my chances will be im looking to join the army but either way i know ill need a waiver or if its even possible for me so this will be of great help! thank you
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The medical accession standards for "joining" the Army (enlisting) and appointments to a service academy are different.

Enlisted members are processed through USMEPCOM (Military Entrance Processing Command) and officer candidates go through DODMERB (Department of Defense Medical Examination Board).

:cool:
 
Anderson said:
hey plz if you can post on here whether you were able to get the waiver because i have almost the exact same thing and im not sure how good my chances will be im looking to join the army but either way i know ill need a waiver or if its even possible for me so this will be of great help! thank you
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The fact that someone else got a waiver is really not relevant to whether you will, even if you have the "exact same thing." Your best course of action is to send a message to Larry Mullen at the address indicated in his email. He can help you with YOUR situation, which is really all that counts.
 
Spodylolisis waiver help

Hello,
I read your posts about your success in achieving a waiver for the Naval Academy. Congratulations and thanks for your service.
My son is in Rotc and is # 1 in his class to receive a scholarship. Academically and physically cleared. He was denied because of his history of spondylolisis. He has one more chance to reapply with additional info ect. If denied this time, he was told, he may not ever enter service.
He has Doctor appt today, hoping to get order for new xray and scan. ( that hopefully will show improvement) He is an athlete that is top shape, hard to believe he would be denied.
Do you have any advice how to handle doctor appointments, get letters of fit for duty or any other how to's?
Any advice is welcome and appreciated.
 
The problem with resurrecting a thread this old is the people you are addressing are long gone, in this situation the two posters that did get the waiver have not posted in over four years. I would think the others that also had the issue did not get a waiver because if you look at their account they have only 2 posts.

Now for your DS I would suggest him contacting the help desk at DoDMERB.

Remember waivers are case by case and it is not only about them, but the mission and the impact his medical condition will impact others and the mission. JMPO, It also changes regarding chances depending on manpower needs. When they need to get more commissioned the chances of waivers increase, when they need less than waivers become more difficult to get.

You may want to also find a consultant that offers DodMERB services as their business, but first try the help desk
 
+1 to Pima. I would also suggest that you keep in mind that the physical demands of the military are different than any other athletic endeavor. For example, carrying around a 100 pound pack for several days while in the field or on patrol puts different stresses on his back than the stresses I expect he experiences now. If these stresses were to cause an injury while on a combat patrol, your DS has now become a burden to the rest of his team. These are things that must be considered.

As Pima mentions every case is different. You might be able to get a waiver, you might not. I encourage you to go for it, but temper your hope and expectations with the knowledge that any decision made is not all about him... there are other issues involved.
 
My DS, a current 2/C at USNA, was DQ'd for spondylolysis and was waivered by both USNA and USAFA. I think his was only at "less than 25%" and xrays showed that it was not shifting. We received a letter from the doctor saying he was "cleared for military", and my DS also sent a personal statement which included links to videos of his sports activities over the prior year. He also stated that at least he was aware of his condition and able manage it with no issues...there are probably plenty of others that have the same thing and just have not been diagnosed...they would be worse off once at the academy!
 
Even though I haven't posted for years, I still got an e-mail, I guess because I used to follow this thread! My DD is now an Ensign in the Coast Guard and I can say that she never had a problem with her back, rowing Crew all 4 years at the Academy (I know, rowing is all about the legs, but it looks like it would affect the back too, if it was a problem). Anyway, I don't know if there is any DODMERB advocate on here like Larry Mullen, but back in the days when my daughter was working her way through the system, he was a life saver! I also did alot of leg/phone work, calling previous doctors and picking up old records - all to prove to DODMERB that her back issues were not an issue and had been proven by doctors far more qualified (specialists) than the ones she was referred to by the DODMERB process (radiologist). That being said, my DD had a slight scoliosis, not spondylolysis. Anyway - a nationally recognized specialist's opinion can carry more weight than an elderly radiologist with out-dated equipment (or did, in our case at least). Good luck!
 
mxschool08 said:
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.
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I know this is an old thread, but I'm encountering the same problem as you had except I have spondylolisthesis. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

Matt
 
Matt, I'd be glad to share what I've learned. I'd send you a PM, but you'll need a few more posting before you can participate. Are you planning to apply for the Class of 2020?
 
mrosenhamer said:
mxschool08 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I know this is an old thread, but I'm encountering the same problem as you had except I have spondylolisthesis. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

Matt
Click to expand...
mrosenhamer said:
mxschool08 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I know this is an old thread, but I'm encountering the same problem as you had except I have spondylolisthesis. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

Matt
Click to expand...
mrosenhamer said:
mxschool08 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I know this is an old thread, but I'm encountering the same problem as you had except I have spondylolisthesis. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

Matt
Click to expand...

Matt,

You can PM me too. VAEC was super helpful with invaluable advice in our case! My son also has spondylolisthesis and was denied his USNA waiver in early May after a 2 month battle....it was a NIGHTMARE!!! I'll be happy to share our experience, but I will tell you it was hopeless!!!
 
My DS was also DQ'd for spondylolisthesis and was waivered by both USNA and USAFA. He is currently a 1/C at USNA and having no issues, however he was not medically cleared for aviation because of this (fortunately that wasn't his intent anyway!). The process was actually pretty staightforward, and he got both waivers in just a couple weeks from the time of the DQ. :) If you have any questions, ask away!
 
I know this is an old thread but I'm hoping those e-mails will pop up again and draw attention to it. Any idea how soon those waivers could be obtained after being reported?
 
The honest answer is that respose time varies by situation as each case is typically very unique. Regardless, the keys to both a waiver and how quickly an answer is received are the quality of the candidate and the medical assessment. If the medical review shows stability over time and a positive prognosis for a long military career, then you could get a quick answer if you are a strong candidate. A less certain prognosis will delay things. If your application is good but not exceptional, this too will not help things go quickly. If your spondy prognosis does not clearly meet the waiver standards, that may generate a quicker response too. If you can provide some specifics about your situation, we may be able to give you a clearer picture.
 
VAEC said:
Matt, I'd be glad to share what I've learned. I'd send you a PM, but you'll need a few more posting before you can participate. Are you planning to apply for the Class of 2020?
Click to expand...
How many postings are required before
you can PM?
 
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