HPSP Medical Separation

[lsnyd]

I am in Navy HPSP and today, found out that my medical waivers have been denied. The Navy GME office/Medical Accessions Officer had made it sound like they thought I would be cleared, and stated that if I was cleared, I would be offered an open transitional year position at NMCSD. I have well controlled hypertension on Lisinopril and an ACL surgery in November 2017. My orthopedic surgeon cleared me for all activity. Prior to admittance to the HPSP program, I had ACL surgery on my other knee when I was in high school (September 2008). I was cleared at that time by the military's orthopedic surgeon. Now, they are telling me that my conditions are incompatible with serving in the military and told me that they were submitting a package to request separation with my options as: 1) agree to separation and work with DFAS for recoupment of HPSP funds; 2) send in additional medical information (but she said that medical decisions are rarely overturned); or 3) rebuttal of the recommendation and submit remission of funds. I have no idea what to do.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Cooperd0g]

Are you a 4th year medical student? Who is "they?" I find it hard to believe that the military would turn away a prospective doc for well controlled HTN and a couple of recovered ACLs.

Definitely do NOT agree to separate and work with paying back the funds. If you were cleared before and accepted into the program and did not do anything shady then you should not voluntarily pay back the funds if you are being medically separated.

 

[lsnyd]

Are you a 4th year medical student? Who is "they?" I find it hard to believe that the military would turn away a prospective doc for well controlled HTN and a couple of recovered ACLs.

Definitely do NOT agree to separate and work with paying back the funds. If you were cleared before and accepted into the program and did not do anything shady then you should not voluntarily pay back the funds if you are being medically separated.

Yes, I am a 4th year student, graduating in May. The woman I talked with this morning about the board decision is the HPSP registrar, but I have also been working with the HPSP Medical Accessions Officer and the Navy GME office in Bethesda. She has not contacted me yet, but the registrar said she would be in contact some time.

 

[BestoFriedo-Todo]

Been in the Air Force, and I have literally seen a 200-300lb , 5'4" female physician work as an active duty physician. She couldn't do a single pull up to save her life. Not sure why they wouldn't take you for HTN.

 

[Perrotfish]

Been in the Air Force, and I have literally seen a 200-300lb , 5'4" female physician work as an active duty physician. She couldn't do a single pull up to save her life. Not sure why they wouldn't take you for HTN.

It's.much, much harder to get in/maintain a scholarship than to stay on active duty.

 

[colbgw02]

If I had been upfront and honest about all of my medical conditions, then I would fight tooth and nail before I would pay back a single penny.

 

[Gastrapathy]

Appeal.

 

[deleted480308]

Op, can you pass a pt test this week?

 

[lsnyd]

Op, can you pass a pt test this week?

I would be able to meet or exceed requirements in running, sit ups, and push ups.

 

[deleted480308]

much like everyone else said, if I could pass a pt test, height/weight, and was not requesting any profiles of any kind I would fight like crazy to stay in if they were going to bill me

 

[deleted480308]

and I mean appeal, JAG, congressmen, literally any and all stops

 

[Chetamine]

i'm coming up on 10yrs active duty after HPSP in the Navy and one lesson that I keep learning is never trust one person's opinion/position on your situation. very few people are experts on how the military does things but everyone acts like they are. there are always exceptions, or ways to appeal a decision. when one person doesn't give you the answer you want to hear, take to the next level. it is true that once you are on active duty, you can have all sorts of medical problems and stay in but it is harder to to come onto active duty with certain conditions. I was a flight surgeon before and would write all sorts of waivers for my pilots and aircrew just to keep them on flight status. you need to make sure that every person at each level reviewing your case has all the details. try to figure out who they are and don't trust that anyone but you will care about the decision. and always look up the relevant instructions or references. search online for "dodi 6130.03" and go to the official site. esd.whs.mil

make sure you aren't looking at outdated references.

 

[Gastrapathy]

This is an accession issue so the retention standards aren't relevant

 

[orbitsurgMD]

This is an accession issue so the retention standards aren't relevant

He is already in HPSP. He already is commissioned. I suspect he has even done ACDUTRA, or at least did duty at his school. He had an accessioning physical when he applied for the scholarship and presumably passed and/or had any disqualifiers waived at the time. It seems to me this is more a retention than an accession matter, not that the Navy isn't trying to pretend it can treat him as an accessions rejectee when it should be clear that isn't the case.

He should fight them if they try anything in the way of recoupment.

 

[Gastrapathy]

I don't think that's correct. He's coming off IRR to AD, pretty sure it's accession standards again

 

[Cooperd0g]

HPSP is IRR? I thought it was sel-res since they were required to do ADT. I could be wrong, but I don't have a source document to cite. Regardless, even if he is in IRR he has already been commissioned as an officer and, therefore, gained into the military. Retention standards would apply, in my opinion.

 

[orbitsurgMD]

I don't think that's correct. He's coming off IRR to AD, pretty sure it's accession standards again

The HPSP contract is regular reserve, not IRR. Drilling is required, organized to take place in a 45-day period once yearly and where waivers to take school orders for the active duty training are required, otherwise orders are to an academic military facility.

 

[Gastrapathy]

OK but I still think it's accession standards to come on AD. I had to write several waivers for IBD that developed during med school and that's what they kept telling me.

 

[backrow]

The HPSP contract is regular reserve, not IRR. Drilling is required, organized to take place in a 45-day period once yearly and where waivers to take school orders for the active duty training are required, otherwise orders are to an academic military facility.

This is incorrect for Navy, they are IRR but in a special category. They are similar (but not exactly like) the strategic sealift officer program where it isn’t the typical IRR that people are used to seeing. Until they are accessioned on active duty the retention standards are not applicable and folks can be separated for things that would normally not get someone removed from active duty; HOWEVER, I have never heard of someone being asked to pay back the scholarship for medical issues. That part to me seems off and I would agree with those saying fight any talk of that.




Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[jabreal00]

The HPSP contract is regular reserve, not IRR. Drilling is required, organized to take place in a 45-day period once yearly and where waivers to take school orders for the active duty training are required, otherwise orders are to an academic military facility.

HPSP is IRR it is not regular reserve. Drilling is not required. One comes on active duty 2 or 3 times depending on length of scholarship for rotation at military hospital. Once you graduate then you are commissioned as CPT/03 on active duty. Facts.

 

[Cooperd0g]

HPSP is IRR it is not regular reserve. Drilling is not required. One comes on active duty 2 or 3 times depending on length of scholarship for rotation at military hospital. Once you graduate then you are commissioned as CPT/03 on active duty. Facts.

Clearly there is a difference of opinion on that in this thread. If you are going to say “Fact” then cite a source document.

 

[j4pac]

HTN and a clean ACL repair? There has to be more information. I would think that there’s a good chance of an appeal if that’s it. I’d also strongly consider at least contacting JAG.

 

[teacherman84]

Clearly there is a difference of opinion on that in this thread. If you are going to say “Fact” then cite a source document.

There shouldbt be differing opinion, its a fact...HPSP is IRR. I had the green ID card and orders stating so for 4 years.

 

[teacherman84]

This is the Navys.

 

[PYoungblood]

I am in Navy HPSP and today, found out that my medical waivers have been denied. The Navy GME office/Medical Accessions Officer had made it sound like they thought I would be cleared, and stated that if I was cleared, I would be offered an open transitional year position at NMCSD. I have well controlled hypertension on Lisinopril and an ACL surgery in November 2017. My orthopedic surgeon cleared me for all activity. Prior to admittance to the HPSP program, I had ACL surgery on my other knee when I was in high school (September 2008). I was cleared at that time by the military's orthopedic surgeon. Now, they are telling me that my conditions are incompatible with serving in the military and told me that they were submitting a package to request separation with my options as: 1) agree to separation and work with DFAS for recoupment of HPSP funds; 2) send in additional medical information (but she said that medical decisions are rarely overturned); or 3) rebuttal of the recommendation and submit remission of funds. I have no idea what to do.

Just FYI the Veterans Administration now offers HPSP and the medical requirements are different

 

[John1513]

Appeal.

 

[Kingfisher]

One question I have for the OP is how did this come up now after you commissioned? The ACL repair will definitely make you NPQ (Not Physically Qualified) for commissioning according to MANMED (for Navy). Almost every chronic preexisting issue makes you NPQ. This stuff should have come up prior to your acceptance of HPSP.

The thing with being NPQ is that you can always ask for a waiver. As long as you can get your specialist to indicate you are not limited by the prior injury and have your PCM state your HTN has been stable for X # of years you can apply for a waiver. If everything is good then the waiver should be easy and you will move on. Your HPSP contacts should help you do this. The waiver form is in MANMED (again, for Navy).

Good luck