Posted on Jan 15, 2019
PO3 J C
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Dallas MEPS denied my waiver and said they now need 7 years of my medical records and 3 years of my pharmacy records to do more research. Don't understand why they need these items or what it will do to change their minds, but I'm getting these items and will submit again. Does anyone know what else can be done? Also, would it even make a difference in my case by submitting these medical records to overturn this and let me join the Army?
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SPC Chris Ison
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The purpose of MEPS is not to get you in, but to keep you out. They do not HAVE to grant a waiver, it is up to the doctor at the station. You have met all the minimum requirements; but based upon that MEPS and its recruiting goals, you may not qualify as there are so many people applying. Maybe their is new directive that you are unaware of.

I see you are a petty officer 3rd class; since you are back at MEPS i am also assuming you are prior service trying to get back in after a discharge.

Try a different branch, or try a going in the Reserves. I am not sure what the NG requirements are in Texas; but, i have found, generally speaking, the NG has a harder time filling slots. Try doing a year in the NG and then reapplying for active duty in an active component like the Navy.

Depending on what you are seeking a waiver for, you may just be screwed.
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PO3 J C
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Appreciate your feedback. I'm already trying to go Army reserves, so will be a different branch this time, after serving in the Navy for 5 years. My waiver is for regular tendonitis in my shoulders and arm that was documented from the Navy. No surgeries or anything unusual, my recruiter didn't even think I needed a waiver for something that minor. Not even sure why I needed a waiver either and tendonitis is normal in anyone.
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SPC Chris Ison
SPC Chris Ison
6 y
Okay thank YOU for the feedback. The good news is you can PROBABLY get into the Army or even the Navy, have you been rated by the VA?

If you have not been rated by the VA, your best bet is to apply for a VA rating, which theoretically will only take six months (after the government shutdown of course). The rating you get, depending on how you act in the process can support your position that you are not disqualified for service. You can be rated anywhere form 0% to 100% based upon your injury, they will evaluate you for "tendonitis" the biggest part of this will be an X-ray for arthritis. Based upon the osteo profile of the X-Ray they may order other imaging. These scans will be instrumental in supporting your case, basically if you do not need an MRI that means your shoulder does not have any type of traumatic arthritis that should be causing inflammation.

Tendonitis, from my limited medical knowledge which amounts to EMT-A and Respiratory therapy. is a "temporary" condition caused by inflammation (generally from arthritis or repetitive stress), and is treatable with ibuprofen or other NSAIDS like Aleve or even aspirin.

The Army (and maybe the whole military) uses a system called PUHLES that stands for Physical capacity/stamina, Upper extremities, Lower extremities, Hearing/ear, Eyes, Psychiatric.

The issue that you may have is that in the navy they may have given you a 3 profile, or the Navy equivalent, in the U, category. A 3 profile is generally disqualifying, and what happens is you get injured get a temp 3 profile and when you are discharged that profile is never reevaluated and sticks and THAT is probably the problem. So, they denied you based on the idea you have a PERMANENT 3 profile, that is why they asked for medical records.

At this point all you have to do is prove that the tendonitis is gone, and that will be best done through some type of imaging scan usually an X-Ray.
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PO3 J C
PO3 J C
6 y
SPC Chris Ison I've been rated at 0% when I got out, but later they reviewed my case and rated me 30%. All fo the doctors I've seen don't see any restrictions with my movements and lab tests all show me to be in tip top condition.

Is there any way that I'd be able to see in my Va records, what the number I'm given based on the PUHLES system? My injuries were nothing and didn't require any surgery or downtime. This is why I was able to continue with duty and even deployed. Should I just wait to get my medical records back and submit them, before getting those x-rays? Don't think I've got bad tendonitis at all and workout normal 7 days a week without issues. I'll look into what you've told me, your advice is very helpful. Thank you so fat for everything!
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SPC Chris Ison
SPC Chris Ison
6 y
Do you have a my HealtheVet type account? if so there is a link in their somewhere to all your records; If you do not have online access you can request them directly from your local VA. They may or may not have that profile in there from your Active duty record.

Like i said tendonitis is usually temporary, it is generally from an injury. If it is a repetitive stress condition like carpal tunnel, that is different, or if it is caused by arthritis. Although arthritis can be caused by trauma.

When you went to your C&P appointment, when they rated you, did they do an X-ray? Or has your primary care physician from the VA ever done an X-ray? If so you can get those imaging files directly from the VA, along with your medical records. They can usually give you imaging while you wait, takes about an hour, at least at my VA. A full records dump can take a few weeks, and generally comes in the mail.

again in my limited understanding of this, which is limited, the solution is an X-Ray. the X-ray will show any arthritis, and based upon the presence of arthritis, they made need further imaging like an MRI to see the soft tissues, and how they are being affected. Now, here is the thing, if it is arthritis you want to use the oldest X-Ray possible, because once you have arthritis it never gets better, only worse; So, if it has been say five years from your last X-Ray, a new X-Ray will show the current damage up to that point.

a clean X-Ray, should get you that waiver or prove the waiver itself is not needed.
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