Advice on medical waivers

[Kaitara]

My son will be meeting with his recruiter in a few weeks, and will probably be joining DEP this summer.

I have been doing a LOT of reading on these forums, and I had a few questions. I have read a lot of horror stories regarding recruiters telling these kids not to disclose certain things, only to have the recruit later kicked out for not disclosing information. I want to make sure that we do not encounter any such thing!

About my son, he is 17 and in his junior year. He was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, and had taken medication for it. The medication was doing him more harm than good (losing weight, not sleeping) so after a few years, we decided to discontinue his meds. This was his choice, as he felt he no longer needed them, and we did (and still do) agree. His grades have been on par with your average teenager and he shows no signs of ADHD. He's been off of his medication for about 4 or 5 years. I DO plan on disclosing this information and medical records pertaining to it, regardless of what his recruiter may tell him. From what I have read, he should be able to get a medical waiver. Is there anything else I need to be prepared for as far as his history with ADHD and our decision to allow him to stop taking meds many years ago?

Also, just how much are we responsible to share when it comes to every bump and bruise he's ever gotten in the last 17 years? He did sprain his ankle 4 years ago, I will get the medical reports for that. But what about things like a cut on his head 8 years ago, that required a few stitches? He's never needed anything like an MRI, any injuries have basically been your typical childhood boy things. Cuts here, scratches there....just how much are they going to need documentation for?

The last thing I'd want is to have him removed from BC because three weeks into it someone finds out that 12 years ago my son cut his finger and forgot to mention it to his recruiter/Meps. Thanks in advance for your replies, like I said, some of these medical waiver stories have us really worrying, and we want to be fully prepared for when he enters into DEP this summer.

[BunkerQB]

Survival Guide for Navy For Moms Newbie (clickable link).

You'll find everything to get started. Videos, pdf files of boot camp processing days, links to all the important groups plus tips on how to use this site. Be sure your recruit joins the NavyDEP.com site (just for recruits). Craig will be a great source of info.

I posted the link on your personal page as well. Click the MY PAGE tab on above menubar to access your page anytime - you should do it at least once a day to see if you have any postings on your comment wall (like this one). Good luck.

BunkerQB,

[CaptainFatso]

My recommendation? If doctor prescribed a treatment or a cop issued a citation, list it.

I pretty much forced my kiddo to take that approach despite strong "suggestions" to the contrary by the recruiter. In fact, THAT little fiasco was an experience in and of itself. 

Doing so definitely slowed her processing through MEPS, but now she is in and is going through boot camp without the fear of having something discovered hanging over her head. When they run her SBI, nothing will pop up.

[Kaitara]

Thanks for your reply!

My son will probably not be heading to MEPS for another month or two but I have already been contacting all of his past doctors for copies of his medical records. I don't know if he will need them all, but wanted to have them handy just incase any additional medical waivers are needed. My husband and I haven't met with the recruiter officially yet, that will happen next month. We're crossing our fingers that this recruiter will be honest, and not try to persuade us to hold back information on my son's medical form(s).

 

Again, thanks for your input!

[CaptainFatso]

My kids recruiter received clear instructions by me during our first meeting. Later, he coached here to do something a little less then ethical on her SF86 and I caught it.

His words were to her, "I'm not telling you lie but..."

I visited with the recruiter again. We had a heart to heart. Not only did my daughter submit her paperwork accurately, but I had the enthusiastic support of a recruiter who would ensure that her package did not get lost in process.

Arguably, none of this was my business, as my kid is an adult. However, it's a rough and tumble world out there and were something to happen, my kid would be hanging alone. Not one of those bastards would volunteer to take the noose in her stead. I chose to be an interfering dad to my adult daughter this time around.

[CaptainFatso]

Allow me to say, that I love the Navy and advocate the experience for any interested young man or woman.

That said, I must tell you that I was disgusted by whole recruiting process. I can tell you that what I witnessed left me convinced that many recruiters think that they're at war with MEPS.

I have zero patience for that. If the cooperation between any my departments were to be as dysfunctional as what I witnessed there, department heads would be running for cover as I unleashed a tirade that would make a Navy Chief blush.

[Kaitara]

Thanks again for all of your feedback.

 

When we do meet with his recruiter, we plan on letting him know first and foremost that we will not lie, or even consider leaving anything out. Period. I am hoping we end up with one of those "honest" recruiters, so this won't even be an issue.

I have taken your advice and have been working steadily these last few days to get copies of his medical records. So far, so good, with the exception of the one doctor that initially diagnosed him with ADHD. They claim to have "tossed out" his records, since it's been over six years. I guess they weren't aware that in NY, they are bound by law to hold records of a minor until his 19th birthday.

I'm hoping there's a mix-up, when I called back  this afternoon she said they "might" be in storage across the street, and that it would take her "months" to look. So, I contacted the NYS Dept of Health, and they will be sending a packet my way to start investigating this doctor's practices.

Crossing my fingers that those records are still available, as I am trying to be thorough.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing your experiences, it really is appreciated!

[cvhansen]

I hope I'm doing this correctly but trying to keep within the same subject of "Advice of Medcal Waivers" and also realize this discussion string is kinda old.

During the health disclosure form my daughter filled out with the recruiter, she listed EVERYTHING. I was told because of the nature of some of her health issues that a courtesy review will need to be done by another office in TN.  My daughter has never been to MEPS yet. So far every issue addressed and requested by this TN office has had updated medical documentation provided.  If (and when) everything has been addressed and hopefully there are no more questions or additional medical tests needed, what is next?  I'm almost positive that she will still go to MEPS but will all these additional questions from the TN office and medical documention that is provided be in a record so that my daughter won't have to go through this again?

 

[Edgar]

He should be fine being that there is documentation that meds have not been taken for more than 6 months, I am in hte medical field and I know on the DD 2807 (Report of medical history) it does ask about psych issues to include ADHD and ADD. He should be fine though. As stated before, it's best to disclose just whatever is asked on the DD 2807 and DD 2808 (you can get the PDF files and look them over), most conditions listed ask for chronic issues.