Asthma disqualification

[nsgirl]

What is the name of your state? Oregon
My son was, I believe, misdiagnosed with asthma when he was 5 years old. After that, whenever he saw the doctor for a cold or cough (twice I believe), they automatically prescribed an inhaler. He has never had an asthma attack and never used the inhalers. He was told by his coast guard recruiter that he was disqualified because he had been prescribed an inhaler after age 12. He did not even get to have a physical, which he could have easily passed. He was told that he could enter one of the other branches, which don't have as strict guidelines on this as the coast guard. His pediatrician, of course, refuses to admit that it is possible he may have overdiagnosed asthma, but does say that he has not had any continuing problems. Any advice?

[SHORTY LONG]

What made the Coast Guard Recruiter think that your son was prescribed an asthma inhaler after his 12Th birthday?
There is more than one Coast Guard recruiter; and each Coast Guard Recruiting station has superiors above the initial
Recruiter[s] that can always be appealed to for enlistment.

[cyberspook]

Originally Posted by SHORTY LONG

What made the Coast Guard Recruiter think that your son was prescribed an asthma inhaler after his 12Th birthday?
There is more than one Coast Guard recruiter; and each Coast Guard Recruiting station has superiors above the initial
Recruiter[s] that can always be appealed to for enlistment.

The Coast Guard has the luxury of being able scrutinize it's recruits a lot more closely than other branches of the service because there services are not in as much demand as other branches. Hence recruiters can focus there attention on recruits with minimal problems and fewer headaches. They can meet there minimun monthly recruiting goals with less effort than other branches of the service. So there thinking tends to be more along the lines of "just go for the easy ones I can sign up quickly" than to do all the leg work than say an Army recruter would have to do.

I am betting that he had to provide his medical records (wich is how they found out about the inhaler) to his recruiter, where an Army recruiter would just have him provide permission to collect them via a quick signature and would have figured out what waivers he needed and prepared all the paperwork in record time.

A recruit that wishes to enlist in the Coast Guard will have to be more pro-active in there attempt.

That's not to say it is impossible, just more difficult. Get a Doctor's second opinion, go above his recruiters head (a lesson in how to use the chain of command). Be persistent, don't give up untill you see the boat sink (so to speak).

[nsgirl]

Cyberspook, you are right; they asked for all of his medical records before they would even consider scheduling a medical exam. He's been going through this process for months, and they keep asking for more and different records. The recruiter said the diagnosis is not waiverable, and when I asked if it would help if he called a friend of ours who is just about at the top of the chain of command in this area, they said NOBODY could overcome this disqualification, because the rules come straight from Congress. And you are also right about the recruiters. They don't seem very interested in actively recruiting, even though my son is an excellent candidate with great ASVAB scores, is an active swimmer, diver, runner, and good student. His pediatrician did suggest taking him to another physician, but I'm not sure how a second opinion could help, because it's been years since the first diagnosis, and they are basing everything on that. Thanks for responding!

[fozzy2]

According to DoD instruction 6130.4, you are disqualified if you have been "reliably diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday." If your son has had no attacks/treatment since the 13th birthday, it may be possible to get a waiver. He will have to sign a special waiver form testifying that he has been symptom free since his
13th birthday. He may need to undergo special testing.
If your son has been diagnosed/treated since age 13, then there is virtually no chance of entry into any service.

Your son may have to take a PFT (pulmonary function test), most likely methacoline breathing, and perhaps a NIOX (nitric acid) measurment test as well.

Asthma is a serious attrition problem for the military. Studies have shown that the MEPS screening misses 85% of people with asthma - largely because there is no simple/reliable test, and people lie like hell about their medical history. That is why the military is experimenting with NIOX testing.

[cyberspook]

Originally Posted by fozzy2

According to DoD instruction 6130.4, you are disqualified if you have been "reliably diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday." If your son has had no attacks/treatment since the 13th birthday, it may be possible to get a waiver. He will have to sign a special waiver form testifying that he has been symptom free since his
13th birthday. He may need to undergo special testing.
If your son has been diagnosed/treated since age 13, then there is virtually no chance of entry into any service.

Your son may have to take a PFT (pulmonary function test), most likely methacoline breathing, and perhaps a NIOX (nitric acid) measurment test as well.

Asthma is a serious attrition problem for the military. Studies have shown that the MEPS screening misses 85% of people with asthma - largely because there is no simple/reliable test, and people lie like hell about their medical history. That is why the military is experimenting with NIOX testing.

FOZZY... You da man!!!

[nsgirl]

From what I've read, the coast guard doesn't allow the methacoline test. Also, the term "reliably diagnosed" is what I'm saying we can't dispute. Who decides whether or not the diagnosis was reliable? I didn't think it was at the time, and I don't think it is now. I'm pretty sure that the last time he went in for a bad cold was after age 13. All they would do is look at his chart, and say "oh it's the asthma again," and he would not respond to the prescribed asthma treatment (because he doesn't have asthma), but would just get over it when most of us get over a bad cold. How can anyone get past that??

[cyberspook]

Originally Posted by nsgirl

From what I've read, the coast guard doesn't allow the methacoline test. Also, the term "reliably diagnosed" is what I'm saying we can't dispute. Who decides whether or not the diagnosis was reliable? I didn't think it was at the time, and I don't think it is now. I'm pretty sure that the last time he went in for a bad cold was after age 13. All they would do is look at his chart, and say "oh it's the asthma again," and he would not respond to the prescribed asthma treatment (because he doesn't have asthma), but would just get over it when most of us get over a bad cold. How can anyone get past that??

I would assume "reliably diagnosed" means (among other things) that he was diagnosed by a M.D. in good standing.

I suppose you could throw dirt at the good doctor and dispute his diagnoses as being less than reliable. From what you have written it sounds like it was a less than reliable diagnoses anyway. Is this doctor known in the medical community as being a doctor who regularly finds children to have asthma?

I know it's a long shot (and down right nasty) to try and trash a doctor's reputation. But...

[fozzy2]

If the doctor made a diagnosis that it was asthma, then there may not be much you can do about it. Few doctors are going to go back and second-guess a diagnosis made years ago. Asthma can be hard to diagnose, which is one reason they rely so heavily on history. Sometimes asthma is only triggered by infections, and thus as long as a person stays 'healthy' they will be asymptomatic. The wrong virus, however, and an otherwise fit person can quickly become a medical emergency. Before 2004, the military wouldn't even give waivers for a childhood (pre-13) history of asthma.

At least your son doesn't have "doper asthma". The military has been running into an increasing number of kids, often very good athletes, who basically get a diagnosis of asthma so they can use various inhalers and meds to enhance performance. The kids aren't really sick, they're just cheating (or their parents are). But if it is in your medical history, too bad.

[DRTDEVL]

Fozzy nailed it with the PFT and NIOX testing... But there is one option left to consider.

Has his record been forwarded to MEPS in any way by the Recruiter? Maybe for a "Medical Read"?

If MEPS has not seen his record, there is no record in the MEPS system that he was DQed.

Go to another Recruiter, and if he doesn't say ASTHMA or INHALER, he can get through it. Let them in on the ATSHMA possibility prior to 13 years of age, so the proper testing can be done (medical waiver). This covers against fraudulent enlistment.

Good Luck!

[Lapt]

I'm currently trying to get into the Army ROTC program. Can I go to my congress and ask for an asthma waiver? My Methacholine test came back negative and clear. My tests are send to DoD for a review but I feel that it is not good enough and being in the military is something I wanted to do all my life! Can any one help me? What should I do? I'm positive about my doctor misdiagnosing! Thank you

[ecmst12]

If you have a question, start your own thread. This post is long dead and the poster is long gone.

[Lapt]

thanks :0)

[Lapt]

how do u start a new thread? Thank you