What is the process behind a medical waiver?

2019-08-02T18:02:31-04:00

Hey everyone,

I got a friend who is looking to the military and a few years they got a surgery done to correct an issue with their chest where bars were inserted to correct a dip that had form. Since then the bars have been removed and they are able to complete phyiscal activity with little to no breathing issue. They are trying to join the National Guard and were told they would need a mediacal waiver. I was never a recruiter or involved with a medical waiver during my time in so I figured I would see if anyone can tell me what the process is. THe Cheif Medical Officer at MEPS is the one that told them they will need a medical waiver. Is getting a medical waiver just haivng a docture interview the possible recruit or is there a battery of tests that must be complete or is it different based on the situation?

Response by Capt Michael Wilford made Aug 2 at 2019 6:11 PM

2019-08-02T18:11:41-04:00

The specific waiver is called a BuMed waiver and it is a medical review board from the specific branch of service for which the applicant has applied. The waiver process involves some of what you have asked in your question; it is a review of the issue, a review of the correction to the issue and a review to determine if the correction of the issue will satisfy the minimum requirements for enlistment. Part of this review process may include having the applicant see additional doctors who specialize in whatever it is that is being reviewed. Getting waivers can be simple, or they can be complex. From what you have described about your friend's issue, it seems that an orthopedic consult would be appropriate, but do not take that as gospel truth. MEPS is a strange animal...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:49 PM

2019-08-02T18:49:27-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=national%20guard%20bureau%20leadership&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Purely as a thought on my part, you might wanna suggest looking through some of these...I'd expect there'd be someone on the senior clinical staff of NGB that'd know, certainly...that's just one idea, obv, of course....

national%20guard%20bureau%20leadership - AOL Search Results

General Lengyel was commissioned in 1981 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at University of North Texas. He served in various operational and staff assignments, primarily as an F-16 Instructor Pilot and Weapons Officer. His experience in the F-16 includes tours in Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, United States Air Forces in Europe and the Texas Air National Guard.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:50 PM

2019-08-02T18:50:31-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=national%20guard%20medical%20waiver%20or%20waivers&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Then I found these....

national%20guard%20medical%20waiver%20or%20waivers - AOL Search Results

Page 2 of 2 Waiver of Health Care and/or Prescription Drug Coverage Form # 1013 Section B — Waiving OP&F-sponsored health care coverage Complete this section to waive health care and/or prescription drug coverage for yourself and/or your dependents.Please note

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:51 PM

2019-08-02T18:51:36-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=army%20national%20guard%20recruiting%20medical%20waiver%20or%20waivers&s_it=loki-tb-sb

These too....

army%20national%20guard%20recruiting%20medical%20waiver%20or%20waivers - AOL Search Results

Ensure the most current form is submitted. Refer to EMACS Forms/Procedures website. OPT-OUT/WAIVER ELECTION AGREEMENT FOR MEDICAL AND/OR DENTAL COVERAGE

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:52 PM

2019-08-02T18:52:26-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=bars%20surgically%20inserted%20to%20correct%20dip%20in%20chest&s_it=loki-tb-sb

I found these....

bars%20surgically%20inserted%20to%20correct%20dip%20in%20chest - AOL Search Results

Save Big on Quality Bars. Everyday Free Shipping Over $45 & Easy Returns! Score incredible deals plus free shipping* at the 4 day flash sale!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:53 PM

2019-08-02T18:53:00-04:00

https://www.epainassist.com/chest-pain/pectus-excavatum-or-sunken-chest

Then this....

Pectus Excavatum or Sunken Chest|Causes|Symptoms|Treatment|Exercise

Pectus excavatum or Sunken chest occurs more in men as compared to the women. It is estimated that one in around 1000 person suffer from Pectus excavatum or Sunken chest at their births. Know its causes, symptoms, treatment, exercise.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:53 PM

2019-08-02T18:53:50-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=wikipedia%20pectus%20excavatum&s_it=loki-tb-sb

Also these....

wikipedia%20pectus%20excavatum - AOL Search Results

Pectus excavatum is a structural deformity of the anterior thoracic wall in which the sternum and rib cage are shaped abnormally. This produces a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. It can either be present at birth or develop after puberty.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:54 PM

2019-08-02T18:54:53-04:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_excavatum

I've got a funny feeling it might be this....

Pectus excavatum - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:55 PM

2019-08-02T18:55:38-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=military%20medical%20waiver%20pectus%20excavatum&s_it=loki-tb-sb

I think you'll want these....

military%20medical%20waiver%20pectus%20excavatum - AOL Search Results

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:56 PM

2019-08-02T18:56:10-04:00

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A0geK.VVv0RdZKcABS5pCWVH;_ylu=X3oDMTBybGY3bmpvBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--?qid= [login to see] 5244AAVkjU5

Esp this....

index

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:56 PM

2019-08-02T18:56:54-04:00

http://armyforums.com/joining-the-army/5529-pectus-excavatum.html

And this....

Pectus excavatum

I'm just starting my recruitment process, in fact I plan on visiting a recruiter this week. After visiting this and another site, I came across a post

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:58 PM

2019-08-02T18:58:48-04:00

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=pectus+excavatum

He'll wanna look through these, not all of these have to be paid for, however, that's the most complete listing of articles on it routinely found....

pectus excavatum - PubMed - NCBI

PubMed comprises more than 29 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 6:59 PM

2019-08-02T18:59:44-04:00

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=pectus+excavatum

These are all free, no fee for any of them....

pectus excavatum - PMC - NCBI

National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 7:00 PM

2019-08-02T19:00:48-04:00

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=pectus+excavatum+military

This list is far narrower, deals expressly with mil aspects of it, and, once again, are all free...there are only 284 on this list, so it should be reasonably searchable, with a little effort....

pectus excavatum military - PMC - NCBI

National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Aug 2 at 2019 7:01 PM

2019-08-02T19:01:03-04:00

Real World: keep mouth shut.
Already told them world: grab a physical evaluation checklist and take it to the old treating doctor. Beware of trying to repeat or explain a diagnosis or prognosis... have the Doctor write it. Watch wording like LITTLE to no breathing issues. (LITTLE)...Really.. red flag....Also make sure ahead of time he can pass the PFT and has a good cardio work up just to be safe. The Captain is correct..simple or complex.. depending on diagnosis.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 7:01 PM

2019-08-02T19:01:28-04:00

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=pectus+excavatum+military+army

These are explicitly for Army, there are 104 on here, also all free....

pectus excavatum military army - PMC - NCBI

National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 7:03 PM

2019-08-02T19:03:39-04:00

http://www.amsus.org

You could also vary the search for other svcs, as well, however, you ought to be able to find something in those...you might also want to suggest calling here, this is the main professional med society for the military and VA, I can almost guarantee there's gonna be someone here whom you can ask about it, esp dealing with cardiothoracic surgery and clinical waivers for related conditions, I'd expect...just another idea that occurred to me....

AMSUS

AMSUS, The Society of Federal Health Professionals, is a non-profit member-based educational and professional development association serving the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, federal health professionals and their families, our industry partners and advocates for advancing health for all- particularly through interagency collaboration. AMSUS supports the federal health professional...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 7:06 PM

2019-08-02T19:06:53-04:00

When I was in residency, before my total perm disability, a good deal of enrichment training I'd had to do, even though I'd been allied health, we shut my license because of the whole disability thing, had been in assisting with genl surg, incl a good deal of cardiothoracic stuff...I haven't seen all of it, by any means, and, that specific condition I'd known of, though hadn't dealt with, per se, even as a resident on assist, however, I'm fairly certain that's gonna be it, as I'd said...at least, those are my initial thoughts, at any rate.....

Response by 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel made Aug 3 at 2019 2:47 PM

2019-08-03T14:47:35-04:00

His condition is called a pectus excavitum, which was surgically corrected with the extensive process of raising his sternum (breast bone) and the ribs to create a normal, or closer to normal space for his heart, lungs, esophagus, etc. I have known 2 people who were born with this and had it corrected surgically as you describe. I am not up to what the regs say, but there would be some concern about the kinds of PT and especially combat. I am not optimistic, but I love to be proven wrong when I am.