Hello. I have received an LOA from West Point admissions with appointment contingent only upon medical and physical qualification (I have a presidential nomination). I have been found both medically and physically qualified at USNA so it leads me to believe that I also will be at USMA. However, I have a chest deformity called pectus excavatum where my chest basically sinks in a bit. There was no issue with it at my DODMERB appointment, but it can reduce cardio endurance a bit due to my chest bone restricting my heart and lungs. If i were to get surgery, would that disqualify me medically? The recovery time is only around 6 weeks for the surgery, and they remove the bar that they put in place under your chest bone around 2 years after the initial surgery. I am not greatly affected by my condition but would love to get it fixed. Just curious on how that would work. Thank you for any answers!
Will chest surgery disqualify me?
- Thread starter sonar
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My son received waivers (for head injury a few years prior) from USNA and USMMA within a few weeks after the waivers being requested. USMA took around 3+ months and was much more strict than other SAs. If you have already had DODMERB exams I would wait to see what comes back. If you come back “disqualified“ you can request clarification from the physicians at DODMERB.
USMCGrunt
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I have a DS (non military) who needed this done because it was affecting his cardio endurance. The Nuss procedure recovery and case you presented may be best case but it can become quite a long recovery with any issues.
If this is for cosmetic reasons I advise against it. Wait until you are further down the road to make that call. If medically necessary, then have it done and whatever the ruling is, it is.
If this is for cosmetic reasons I advise against it. Wait until you are further down the road to make that call. If medically necessary, then have it done and whatever the ruling is, it is.
I came back as qualified for DODMERB at USNA. They did a follow up on my chest condition but ruled it wouldn’t be an issue so i’m medically qualified. Just don’t know if a surgery would change me being qualified at this point. Thank you for your response!
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You are required to submit any changes to your medical history to DoDMERB, provide requested information and re-await medical qualification. There may be a post-surgery window of time you have to be clear of before you can report in to USNA. If you’re still in that window, it could be a DQ. I am speaking very generally here and based only on what I have observed here on SAF. You should have this conversation sooner rather than later with DoDMERB.
Anonymous121
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Do not do anything that will change your medical status.
As previous posters have stated, DO NOT do anything that could change your status now! Once you are at an academy and in the military you can explore options if needed or desired. Then you will be working with military doctors and a different set of rules. If you get to USMA / USNA you can see if it bothers you or interferes with your activities.
Great, thank you!