Waiver Denied

[goeagles42]

Just found out my waiver has been denied due to a past back issue. My orthopedic doctor stated that I had "spina bifida" which I've never had a history of. I am going to a different doctor for a separate opinion to send in to the academy. Does anyone have any advice that could help with the persuasion of the board this time around? Thank you!

 

[MohawkArmyROTC]

You will have to provide clinical evidence that you do not have spina bifida. Once a diagnosis is written down, the burden is on you to prove that it is incorrect.

 

[sheriff3]

OP, try to find a retired military Dr. who is still practicing. Preferably a specialist to examine you and hopefully dispute the incorrect diagnosis. If favorable results send to DoDMERB. Good luck

 

[cyrusu]

Hi, I had asthma as a child, but no longer have it. In February, I received a letter for an AMI, and I performed a pulmonary function test (PFT) in March. Although the doctor said I was perfectly fine, the Air Force waiver authority said I did not meet standards. I was automatically considered for a waiver and was denied. A few weeks ago, I sent 180 pages of medical records from my former pediatrician and I was denied yet again today.

During the summer, I plan on going to a doctor more familiar with military standards and performing another PFT and a methacholine challenge test. Assuming I pass both and submit the results to DoDMERB, what is the chance that I'll get a waiver or even rebut the DQ? Please be completely honest.

 

[MohawkArmyROTC]

DODMERB does not grant waivers, the commissioning source does. I can not speak for the AF, but for Army ROTC you would need to get the following completed:

o Obtain a complete exercise spirometry study

o Obtain Complex Pulmonary Stress Testing (CPET)

o Ensure the pre/post bronchodilator is accomplished after the complex pulmonary stress testing

o Methacholine challenge test

o If FEV1 or FVC change by 12% or more non waiverable

 

[Humey]

Its kinds of funny (ironic). When you are a kid and the docs find stuff or even when parents see problems in their kids, a lot of the parents take the kids for official diagnosis and treatment even though the issues are minor and probably would have taken care of themselves over time. Now its 10 years or more later, the kids are trying to get into the Academies or rated positions and these treatments and diagnosis wind up biting the kids in the butt. Not talking about real diseases or medical problems but things like allergies or anxiety. Not saying they shouldnt be looked into, but it sort of like when people used to use antibiotics for colds and flu even though it didnt help and time and Advil was all you needed.

 

[1842]

There are three types of Spina Bifida

1) Occulta - most common. It is a congenital anomaly of the spine (neural tube defects) diagnosed on x-ray. Most people will never know they have it unless they have an x-ray for an unrelated condition and it rarely causes problems.

"Spina Bifida Occulta. There is a small defect in the closure of the laminaa in order to forum the spinous process which results in a cleft spinous. This defect may be mild, with a small void of osseous development, and is known as a 'spina bifida occulta (SBO), and is of no clinical significance and it is not a cause of back pain".

2) Vera - This variant causes a disfiguring of the skin above the spinal anomolgy and not easily missed during pediatric exams.

3) Myelomeningocele - This extreme variant is usually not consistent with life and has extreme signs/symptoms.

Make sure what ever doctor you see classifies the condition correctly because #2, #3 are disabilities. Type #1 usually has no signs or symptoms.