Health Waiver for USUHS

[Dr. Dukes]

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Hey,
I just heard from DoDMERB that I'm not medically qualified, and they told me to write some guy at USUHS to ask for a waiver. What should I say besides please?
(Without going into the details, I'm not qualified because I'm getting treatment for a quality of life issue...PM for details)

 

[colbgw02]

when i got my waiver, i did so by going to see a specialist in the field most relevant to the condition for which i was being disqualified. he agreed to produce a letter for me which i submitted that basically said that the condition would not impair my ability to serve. that was good enough for dodmerb.

 

[st0rmin]

when i got my waiver, i did so by going to see a specialist in the field most relevant to the condition for which i was being disqualified. he agreed to produce a letter for me which i submitted that basically said that the condition would not impair my ability to serve. that was good enough for dodmerb.

I agree with the above. Just have the doc treating you write a letter explaining that this will not affect your service. It's usually a simple process.

 

[MedicalCorpse]

I agree with the above. Just have the doc treating you write a letter explaining that this will not affect your service. It's usually a simple process.

DODMERB was hesitant to approve my application due to a hammer finger deformity of my left pinkie finger, despite the fact that I had already served 4 years on ROTC, including training camp survival training at Ft. Bullis; could break boards and bricks with that hand with my karate training; and the deformity helps me hit the "z" on the typewriter/keyboard.

I just had my FP write a note (he stated the best surgeon at his medical school had no index fingers), and sent DODMERB pictures of my hand.

Shouldn't be a big deal, unless you have ALS:
http://www.medicalcorpse.com/als_in_veterans.jpg

--
R

 

[MedicalCorpse]

Hey,
I just heard from DoDMERB that I'm not medically qualified, and they told me to write some guy at USUHS to ask for a waiver.

It may interest you to know just how highly regarded DoDMERB is within the active duty military community. Here are some pictures which represent the official view of DoDMERB's capabilities and competencies:

DoDMERB in 1978:
http://www.medicalcorpse.com/dodmerb.jpg

DoDMERB HQ today:
http://www.medicalcorpse.com/dodmerb2.jpg

The above pix are screenshots I took from an official TAOS upper echelon Medical Corps briefing entitled Force Health Management Update, which I found here:

http://www.brooks.af.mil/web/taos_crse/present/Babb_1FHM Update.swf

So, I wouldn't worry. If you are breathing, cast a shadow, and possess a core temperature (rectal, of course) higher than asparagus, you are a shoo-in for a slot at USU. On the other hand, because of that fact, due to the impending implosion of military medicine, I would worry...a lot.

But what do I know?

--
R
Ex-LtCol, USAF, MC
Ex-Medical Director of Anesthesia, Travis AFB
Ex-Assistant Chief Anesthesiologist, Andrews AFB
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist since 1995
USUHS Class of 1990

 

[deuist]

What do you mean by "quality of life?" You will automatically fail the physical if you are taking anti-depressants. Even during med school you won't be allowed to take psychotropic meds. But... everything is waiverable. Find a psychologist or psychiatrist---preferably paid for by the military---and get him/her to write a letter stating that you're perfectly fit for both medical school and the military. When I got my medical disqualification, I found a shrink and got a DODMERB waiver soon thereafter.

 

[Dr. Dukes]

Why would a shrink have anything useful to say about allergy shots? By quality of life I mean that prior to my shots I would spend ~1 week/year doped up on antihistamines, and now I'm not. My girlfriend has two dogs, and before the shots I couldn't spend more than 18 hours at her house w/o benadryl, and now I'm all set.
Is this disqualification based in medical fact (my allergist thinks its stupid) or is it some bureaucracy thing?

 

[NavyFP]

The point of medical disqualification is based on the thought that we do not want broken people coming on Active Duty. After the initial entry period, if we don't catch a preexisting condition that will keep you from being able to do your job, the process to get you out is a pain. So, they set very strict limits as to what is permitted and what is not to get in to the service. Then you get the bureaucratic process to be allowed to come in with any of these conditions. An average just graduated HS kid would not get a waiver for something like this. Since the pool of potential selectees for medical school is substantially less, we are more forgiving of the petty stuff. We also need to consider the likelihood of a situation getting worse which will not permit you to complete your obligated service.

And no you do not need a psychiatrist to examine how you feel about how your runny nose affects your quality of life.

 

[Croooz]

Don't take deuist comments personally. I thought the same thing when I saw the words "quality of life". Perhaps it's a military brainwashing that took place for me to think that "quality of life" was a qualitative variable which could only be remedied with mind altering drugs. 👍

Good luck in your quest for admission.

Why would a shrink have anything useful to say about allergy shots? By quality of life I mean that prior to my shots I would spend ~1 week/year doped up on antihistamines, and now I'm not. My girlfriend has two dogs, and before the shots I couldn't spend more than 18 hours at her house w/o benadryl, and now I'm all set.
Is this disqualification based in medical fact (my allergist thinks its stupid) or is it some bureaucracy thing?

 

[deuist]

Why would a shrink have anything useful to say about allergy shots?

That clarifies a few things.