Waiver Too Late?

shenandoah81 · May 24, 2012

My daughter has a conditional appointment to USCGA and a waiver for her disqualifying condition has been submitted. All of the information about her disqualifying condition has been in her medical review file since early 2010 (when she first applied to USCGA). At that time, she did not receive an appointment, so it was never reviewed by them for a waiver. When she received the conditional appointment from CGA in April, she was told she needed a new physical exam to check for any additional disqualifying conditions, other than the original one. She got that done immediately, and has been waiting for notification of whether the waiver will be given. Obviously R-Day is looming, and it seems from other posts I've seen that it is possible that they may just not make a decision in time? Is that really possible? Do they prioritize the reviews in any way? Is there any way to get the attention of the review board so that her fate is not just left to the calendar?

shenandoah81 · May 24, 2012

Nevermind...

My daughter received a notice that the waiver was denied, just moments after I posted. It is extremely disappointing since her disqualifying medical condition is a congenital defect pertaining to her lungs that she completely outgrew in early childhood. I really think the waiver was denied just because the condition is so rare there isn't any way to prove that she will continue to be 100%. Even though her entire lifetime of active participation in strenous sports coupled with a recent pulmonology work-up and report proving she has normal lung function totally supports that conclusion. So disappointing!!

buff81 · May 24, 2012

You can appeal denied waivers.
Can you prove that the condition does not exist?

shenandoah81 · May 24, 2012

Appeal

She is going to appeal the decision. But the problem is that it is a very rare defect to have survived past infancy so most of the information you get if you google it would say that it is likely to be fatal. And I guess that used to be true. But that is all in the context of infants. For no explainable reason she did nothing but improve until she eventually became 100% normal in early childhood. There was a study published in 2004 that concluded that as long as the patient survived the neonatal period, the prognosis was good. And she has proven her capacity by being very physically active her whole life (ice hockey, soccer, running -- all sports that require stamina and wind and I would say she had more of both than 95% of the kids she has played with). And her recent pulmonary function tests done by the head of the pulmonlogy department at Children's Hospital in Boston were normal, and he stated in a letter that she would be at no greater risk than anyone without the condition. I just don't see how else we can prove it is not an issue. Because it is so rare, there has not been much attention on it by the medical community. I have contacted the doctor that published that 2004 study to see if he can provide anything. Fingers crossed!

buff81 · May 24, 2012

Good!
Don't have any regrets for not trying to fight this.

I am way outside my lane here as I am not medical nor a DoDMERB expert, but if this were my kid and an appointment was riding on it, I would find THE expert on this condition and get her an appointment with them, get them to examine/test her and give their written opinion.

Good Luck!

NMGArmy · Jun 21, 2012

Appeal Denied Waivers

buff81 said:
You can appeal denied waivers.
Can you prove that the condition does not exist?

I recieved notification that I was denied a medical waiver to enter into the Army Green to Gold Active Duty Program. Is there an appeal process? My disqualification factors do not impact my ability to deploy, undertake physically and mentally taxing missions/assignments, and accept Leadership positions or Command positions within my units.

Any guidance or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Pima · Jun 21, 2012

Contact a specialist, believe me Bullet weeks before commissioning was DQ (rated officer) his parents immediately took him to a specialist and submitted the report. He commissioned and served 20 yrs as a WSO in the AF.

NMGArmy,

Green to Gold from what I know is enlisted to officer program. Can't you go to a doc on post and have them submit paperwork in your defense since you are already AD?

NMGArmy · Jun 21, 2012

Pima,

You are correct regarding the program. I am trying to find out, if it is an option to have a doctor review my disqualification and submit documentation to prove I am not limited by my medical history.