The Doctor is in! Ask a Flight Surgeon!

[Mouselovr]

I know ultimately I will not know until I get there, but curious if anyone has gone through/heard of someone go through a similar thing? Is it likely once I get to that point I’ll have to redesignate?

Thanks!

I know a couple of people with scoliosis waivers. There’s multiple sections on it in the NAMI waiver guide with specific numbers depending on which part of the spine you’re out of limits for.

If you fit the description needed/range, the waiver will be granted.

 

[watercup]

Hello, I got selected for an SNA slot and I am scheduled to go to OCS later this year. I am little concerned about the NAMI physical when I get to OCS because I think I was diagnosed with asthma when I was a child. I don’t believe I had asthma because I was out of shape as a kid and I never experienced any symptoms after eleven. I plan on calling the doctor’s office tomorrow to obtain my medical records. I was wondering before I go to OCS, should I get a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) done? I know I will probably have to do a PFT at OCS, but I was wondering if I did one before I went will that speed up the process for any potential waivers I might need?


Thank you in advance.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hello, I got selected for an SNA slot and I am scheduled to go to OCS later this year. I am little concerned about the NAMI physical when I get to OCS because I think I was diagnosed with asthma when I was a child. I don’t believe I had asthma because I was out of shape as a kid and I never experienced any symptoms after eleven. I plan on calling the doctor’s office tomorrow to obtain my medical records. I was wondering before I go to OCS, should I get a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) done? I know I will probably have to do a PFT at OCS, but I was wondering if I did one before I went will that speed up the process for any potential waivers I might need?


Thank you in advance.

Like 98% of the posts here, check out the NAMI guide and this thread to see official and unofficial guidance.

Standard response: If you need a waiver, then you need a waiver. Go from there.

 

[Mouselovr]

asthma

Congrats.

You’ll be fine. I know several people with similar asthma waivers.

You could do one before for piece of mind, but they typically make you redo all tests at OCS.

 

[fighter-cat22]

Pretty strange scenario I’ve got. So I went to MEPS about little over a week ago. I’m cleared for everything except when the doc went over my medical history. — last year I went to a joint clinic about some shoulder pain I had from rock climbing. He assessed me, scheduled an MRI and arthrogram and sent me home. I waited a few days and the pain just kind of went away after I stopped climbing so frequently (still no pain to this day), so I decided to not get the MRI. — in the present, the MEPS doc tells me the other Dr had “diagnosed” me with a dislocation and torn labrum. The MEPS doc said the other Dr probably wrote this in and was going to rule it out after the MRI, but because of how it was worded in the note, it basically said I was diagnosed, and he hadn’t changed it because I didn’t get the MRI. MEPS doc did a focused assessment, said I have full ROM and function (noted that in my chart as well), but told me he would have to DQ me, because of the “diagnosis” and to just get a waiver for it since it’s too late to try and change the record (over 12mo ago now). Currently waiting on the waiver.

-Will this come back to bite me later on?
-Will this sort of waiver take longer than most because of the technicality?
-Will I even require a waiver after the navy docs see that I don’t have an MRI in my chart since it’s impossible to diagnose a torn labrum without soft tissue imaging?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Pretty strange scenario I’ve got. So I went to MEPS about little over a week ago. I’m cleared for everything except when the doc went over my medical history. — last year I went to a joint clinic about some shoulder pain I had from rock climbing. He assessed me, scheduled an MRI and arthroscopy and sent me home. I waited a few days and the pain just kind of went away after I stopped climbing so frequently (still no pain to this day), so I decided to not get the MRI. — in the present, the MEPS doc tells me the other Dr had “diagnosed” me with a dislocation and torn labrum. The MEPS doc said the other Dr probably wrote this in and was going to rule it out after the MRI, but because of how it was worded in the note, it basically said I was diagnosed, and he hadn’t changed it because I didn’t get the MRI. MEPS doc did a focused assessment, said I have full ROM and function (noted that in my chart as well), but told me he would have to DQ me, because of the “diagnosis” and to just get a waiver for it since it’s too late to try and change the record (over 12mo ago now). Currently waiting on the waiver.

-Will this come back to bite me later on?
-Will this sort of waiver take longer than most because of the technicality?
-Will I even require a waiver after the navy docs see that I don’t have an MRI in my chart since it’s impossible to diagnose a torn labrum without soft tissue imaging?

It sounds like you have your answer. I highlighted it in bold. Go from there.

 

[taxi1]

... I went to a joint clinic about some shoulder pain I had from rock climbing. He assessed me, scheduled an MRI and arthroscopy and sent me home. I waited a few days and the pain just kind of went away after I stopped climbing so frequently (still no pain to this day), so I decided to not get the MRI.

Where is the original doctor?

Also, he scheduled a surgical procedure (arthroscopy) without having MRI results?

 

[fighter-cat22]

Where is the original doctor?

Also, he scheduled a surgical procedure (arthroscopy) without having MRI results?

Excuse me, I meant arthrogram, updated the post.

About the original doc, I was told by my recruiter and the doc at MEPS that it would simply be easier to get a waiver over trying to go back and change the record with him.

 

[taxi1]

Excuse me, I meant arthrogram, updated the post.

About the original doc, I was told by my recruiter and the doc at MEPS that it would simply be easier to get a waiver over trying to go back and change the record with him.

I'd still hunt him down on my own and get him to do something to clear this up, just to be redundant about it. Getting a waiver for something you don't have is a bit screwy.

 

[fighter-cat22]

I'd still hunt him down on my own and get him to do something to clear this up, just to be redundant about it. Getting a waiver for something you don't have is a bit screwy.

Will do. If I rectify the record, will I be able to get my waiver dropped retroactively? And will I have to go to MEPS again?
My recruiter is thinking I’ll get it approved by this week, and I’m wanting to submit my package before Oct 3.

 

[taxi1]

Will do. If I rectify the record, will I be able to get my waiver dropped retroactively? And will I have to go to MEPS again?
My recruiter is thinking I’ll get it approved by this week, and I’m wanting to submit my package before Oct 3.

If the waiver route works, I'd tuck that correction into my hip pocket and save it for when I've earned my wings, or if a discussion about the shoulder injury arises downstream. Don't rock the boat, but do have an extra oar.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Will do. If I rectify the record, will I be able to get my waiver dropped retroactively? And will I have to go to MEPS again?
My recruiter is thinking I’ll get it approved by this week, and I’m wanting to submit my package before Oct 3.

Without seeing the medical documents, without being a Doctor, and without being a Doctor at N33 who is going to make the call the best answer you will get is to wait for them to respond. No one including your recruiter will know how fast or how slow, or if they will want anything additional.

In case anyone else sees this MEPS and N33 like to see basically the same when it comes to a person who has a medical issue. They both like to see the beginning (I have an issue!), the middle (I am being fixed!), and the end (the Doctor has said I am fixed!). Hopefully this will prepare anyone else who has any medical issue missing a final resolution.