@dguts18
If he is no longer medically qualified for sea/operational duty, he may be offered the opportunity to request lateral transfer to a restricted line community such as cyber, intel, oceanographic, PAO, EDO, etc. The “may” is critical. All will depend on the needs of the Navy and those communities, if there is a need for additional staffing. The Navy has invested in him, and they usually try hard to “re-home” them, especially this junior.
The waiver process will consider the needs of the Navy, current policy, past precedent, and the specifics of the case. Being deployable is critical. Your son is in the best position to work with medical staff and his chain of command on the progress of his case.
Presumably, this condition and evolving treatments are current topics in Navy medicine, with your son’s opthamologist likely in touch with military experts at the teaching hospitals. Unlike the civilian world, he doesn’t get to choose treatment facilities, but he can certainly discuss his case and treatment options with his military healthcare provider. He should be taking good notes, continue to perform well as a JO so his chain of command will go to bat for him if he needs their support and recommendation for a change of officer community, and advocate for himself.
There is not much you can do except offer love and support as he works through this.
I had a Surface Warfare officer on my staff, USNA grad, suffer from debilitating motion sickness, and nothing medical tried worked for her. She was DQ’ed from sea duty; her career as a SWO was done. She was stashed at my command in Ops and was a good officer. She was interested in Navy medicine but had no idea how to start. I told her I would help her, sent her to USNA on a few days’ TAD, connected her with the faculty and advisers who work with the med school mid applicants. They assessed her USNA academics, arranged an interview and tour for her over at USUHS (the military med school over at Walter Reed), outlined a plan of attack for her (take college bio at night, MCAT prep course, created a Chem refresher mini course, etc). - she worked hard, executed the plan, I endorsed her transfer package with a strong recommendation, and she graduated from USUHS and is still serving today. The point being, all is not lost. If the resolution to the situation is looking for a new Navy home, your son should be the hard-charging committed JO everyone will want to help. How he embraces this challenge and potential obstacle will test his adaptivity and perseverance.
Lastly, I will have to say the possibility exists he could be completely cut loose, with no requirement to complete his obligated service. That does happen, either due to the nature of the DQ or the lack of room in any potential officer communities. Officer end strength at each pay grade is mandated by law. I think it far more likely if a waiver is not available, he would find a new home in the Engineering Duty Officer, Oceanography or other community.
One step at a time.