Pre-entrance physical and asthma/adhd waivers?

[SDEngineeringDutyDCO]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the process of applying for a DIRCOM board for the Engineering Duty Officer program, and have everything put together (interviews, transcripts, etc.) and only have the physical left to do prior to submitting to the board.

Fortunately the EDO boards are rolling so I don't have a super-strict deadline to aim for, but I would like to submit my package ASAP nonetheless. The current issue facing me is that I had two "yes" answers that require paperwork: 1) childhood asthma, 2) ADHD diagnosis and treatment for only a year.

As far as the childhood asthma goes, I have had only one asthma attack my entire life (age 4) and had been on inhalers and albuterol until about 11-12 years old, after which I outgrew the asthma and wheezing symptoms. My medical records showing the original diagnosis were from a outside pediatrician and unfortunately don't exist anymore.

The short-lived ADHD diagnosis is an interesting story, however. I have never been diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and was able to go through elementary, middle, and high school just fine without symptoms, and also was able to get my bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering with a decent GPA without any diagnosis or treatment as well. However, in August 2009 I was working full-time and struggling with some graduate-level classes I was taking part time, and having felt like my efficiency wasn't as up to par as I thought it should be, I ended up consulting with a psychiatrist curious if I had ADHD. He ended up diagnosing me with a very mild form of ADHD. I was treated with Vyvanse and was given advice on how to better manage my time and priorities - long story short, my perceived efficiency under a heavy workload didn't improve and after a year of treatment, I realized in hindsight that the psychiatrist had probably diagnosed me with ADHD more because I believed I had it back then vs. whether or not I really had it, and that there was nothing wrong with me, just that I had to reprioritize my tasks to one-at-a-time vs. all-at-the-same-time, which I have since done and I've become extremely efficient both on and off work. I asked to be taken off the medication in December 2010 and was officially released from my doctor's care 3 months later in early 2011.

I unfortunately haven't done any academic work since stopping ADHD treatment aside from having recently taken my Engineer in Training (FE/EIT) exam this past Saturday, which I had studied for consistently on a daily basis since January of this year. If that exam shows as a PASS, would this help my case? Would it also help that I was able to do academic work before seeking any treatment as well?

For the Docs/ORs out there - will my situation require a waiver on any one of these former issues, and if so, is there anything else that I should do in the meantime to boost the chances of Millington approving them? When I filled out the MEPS forms I provided the results of a recent PFT I had done from a civilian doctor which showed my breathing/peak flow within normal limits. I also included a letter from my doctor showing that in his professional opinion that I function normally now without any treatment and that he has released me from his care.

Thanks in advance for any advice you guys have on this matter.

 

[SDEngineeringDutyDCO]

Just wanted to update everyone that I had my MEPS physical on Wednesday, and the CMO evaluated me and put a NCD on my ADHD - stating that because I was able to finish my BS in Electrical Engineering without the need of any ADHD treatment that I was incorrectly labeled by the doctor, so I am now officially ADHD-free on the record!

Everything else checked out OK, but the CMO placed a medical hold on me asking me to have a consult to have a PFT so that I can get a verification on the record that asthma or any reactive airway disease isn't a problem for me.

Anyone have any data on how the med consult process goes? I mentioned it to the recruiter and he said that MEPS schedules the consults, however the CMO told me that the recruiter will schedule them *confused*. Is it better for me to not wait for MEPS and to have the spirometry stuff done myself? I just don't want anymore delays in my application process so that I can submit to the selection board ASAP.

Any advice from Navy Docs or Officer Recruiters on what I can do in the meantime to help expedite this process?

Thanks!

 

[feddoc]

I kinda find it odd that the recruiter is to schedule the PFT...but, maybe so. On the spirometry stuff, it will be done sooner or later. It may be to your benefit, time wise, to have it done yourself.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Just wanted to update everyone that I had my MEPS physical on Wednesday, and the CMO evaluated me and put a NCD on my ADHD - stating that because I was able to finish my BS in Electrical Engineering without the need of any ADHD treatment that I was incorrectly labeled by the doctor, so I am now officially ADHD-free on the record!

Everything else checked out OK, but the CMO placed a medical hold on me asking me to have a consult to have a PFT so that I can get a verification on the record that asthma or any reactive airway disease isn't a problem for me.

Anyone have any data on how the med consult process goes? I mentioned it to the recruiter and he said that MEPS schedules the consults, however the CMO told me that the recruiter will schedule them *confused*. Is it better for me to not wait for MEPS and to have the spirometry stuff done myself? I just don't want anymore delays in my application process so that I can submit to the selection board ASAP.

Any advice from Navy Docs or Officer Recruiters on what I can do in the meantime to help expedite this process?

Thanks!

Easy fix on the confusion, MEPS will contact the recruiter or designated person at the NRD with a list of dates the test can be done and ask you what you can do, then it will be scheduled.

If the MEPS doc put consult you getting a spirometry exam will do nothing but add to your cost, I had one of my guys do this thinking I could get things to move faster and it didn't happen, he had to do the consult thru MEPS.

you have some time for the next boards, and you do not have to have MEPS done to submit your application.

 

[SDEngineeringDutyDCO]

Thanks NavyOffRec for the tip - I was able to get the med consult taken care of and as you said MEPS had arranged it for me and my recruiter just escorted me to the facility to have the spirometry exam. However MEPS sent me a letter that I received yesterday at home, where the CMO stated that I do not adhere to standards for entry into the Armed Forces based on my history of asthma, but that the Navy may be willing to request a waiver on my behalf. The thing that is strange is that the letter makes no reference to the PFT consult results at all (the doctor that did the PFT consult had mentioned to me that my lungs were "clear"). There were a few weeks between when I had the consult and receiving this letter; is this a cause for concern? i.e. did MEPS quickly stamp me as NPQ based on asthma history despite having clear lungs, or is it fairly standard to request waivers for childhood asthma?

Also, do you happen to know when the next rolling EDO selection board is planning on meeting? I was told by my recruiter that the boards for Reserve EDO are rolling, so I want to be sure that my application is complete prior to the board meeting. Also, if I have an EIT certificate and am enrolled in a M.S. program (but haven't taken any classes yet) does this satisfy the entry requirements?

My recruiter has also told me that my kit is at the processor - does this mean that it is waiting to be submitted to the board or that it is already at the board waiting for selection?

Thanks again for all your help - my recruiter has been in high demand lately for the past few weeks and I haven't been able to get a hold of him easily, so I hope you don't mind my questions so as to better understand the process and better prepare for the unexpected.

Thanks!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

There are some cases where the CMO is prohibited from making a decision of PQ due to current MEPS policy, in that case they will NPQ but will put something like NPQ waiver recommended, what you have said sounds like the normal process.

Rolling means they either look at them as they come in, or they have a board when a certain number of applications are rec'd, so there is no way to tell.

Do you meet the requirements yes, but the Program Authorization says "Masters is strongly preferred" that essentially means anyone that has a masters is probably going to be put before you.

At the processor sound like it is at the NRD processer level.