USNA- Are allergy shots (immunotherapy) for seasonal allergies within the last year disqualifying?

[newatthismom]

My son is interested in applying for USNA, he is a high stats kid possibly looking also for baseball recruitment. He is just getting ready to start the process with applying for nominations but in the meantime, we are wondering if he will be DQ'd. He has had allergy shots for seasonal allergies within the past year. 1) The DOD MERB 6130.03 disqualifying conditions did not list immunotherapy for allergies as disqualifying, it only said if you have current use of injectables that need refrigeration. However, I found something on USNA Medical Appendix A that says allergy immunotherapy if received within the past 12 months is DQ. Any insight?
2) He was previously prescribed an inhaler for exercise induced asthma, very mild and does not use the inhaler at all for current baseball and only occasionally used it in previous years. What is the best course of action we can take to position him for a waiver? Go to a pulmonologist and have testing done to see if he actually doesn't get diagnosed now with asthma?
Having some concerns about whether these 2 things would be ultimately waived, before we start this process.
Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

[astrofellow]

I was in the same shoes as you, I was DQ'd for History of acute allergic reaction to fish, crustaceans, shellfish, peanuts, or tree nuts and Asthma/reactive airway disease/exercise induced bronchospasm after age 13

My allergies were a very interesting case. I say this because I am technically allergic to shellfish and so many other things, as per the test I conducted. However, when it came to the oral challenges for these foods, I did not have any reaction to them. Eventually, my allergist was able to finalize that it could be that since I am allergic to pollen, it could be that when pollen falls in these foods, especially tree nuts, I have an allergic reaction, but otherwise I'm good.

As to the asthma, I was DQ'd not necessary because I had asthma but the fact that I was prescribed an inhaler. I was able to get my doctor to write a formal letter explaining that the inhaler was prescribed in case asthma ever got in the way of my physical activity; however, I do not require it, and she was certain I wouldn't need it. However, after months of anticipation and not hearing back, I was sincerely considering going to a pulmonologist and conducting asthma tests, as I saw it was recommended in one of the forums, but before I was able to do that I received news that I had gotten a waiver.

Hopefully, this gives you hope. I am not by any means an expert, and I will be joining NAPS this upcoming summer; however, this was my experience, and I hope you and your son can receive news soon!