Medical Charting for Waiver with recent neck and jaw surgery

[Titanium_Jaw_guy]

I tried to google and index if this question had come up before, but did not find anything so apologies if this is a repetitive question. 24YO M studying for ASTB and also ensuring all my medical paperwork is in order while I prepare for the test. This year I had double jaw reconstruction, leaving me with titanium plates and screws in permanently, as well as a congenital defect repair (thyroglossal duct cyst), (and a follow up emergency addon surgery to close a fistula, making for a cool $270k in medical expenses this year, as well as 2 tonsillectomies last year) I anticipate these being a bit of a roadblock with the navy, my recruiter mentioned that the waiver process is different than it has been in the past, and that my charts will be reviewed first, and then determination for whether or not I need waivers will be made. Both of my surgeons have assured me that I am 100% approved for anything I could face in any service. For anyone who has gone through this waiver process, or that (currently or used to) review these situation is looking to see in the charting from the docs that treated me, and possibly even avoid needing a waiver from the charts being written correctly. Docs I have worked with are fantastic, and want to ensure I have as smooth of a process as possible, I am just having a hard time finding information to give them, or if a general, "he's recovered and good to go" on my chart is enough. Basically the obstacle trying to get myself evaluated as I am now, all my genetic defects repaired, a relatively accomplished collegiate club athlete that is training for triathlon and ultramarathons.

Thanks in advance

 

[ChillBeast69]

I tried to google and index if this question had come up before, but did not find anything so apologies if this is a repetitive question. 24YO M studying for ASTB and also ensuring all my medical paperwork is in order while I prepare for the test. This year I had double jaw reconstruction, leaving me with titanium plates and screws in permanently, as well as a congenital defect repair (thyroglossal duct cyst), (and a follow up emergency addon surgery to close a fistula, making for a cool $270k in medical expenses this year, as well as 2 tonsillectomies last year) I anticipate these being a bit of a roadblock with the navy, my recruiter mentioned that the waiver process is different than it has been in the past, and that my charts will be reviewed first, and then determination for whether or not I need waivers will be made. Both of my surgeons have assured me that I am 100% approved for anything I could face in any service. For anyone who has gone through this waiver process, or that (currently or used to) review these situation is looking to see in the charting from the docs that treated me, and possibly even avoid needing a waiver from the charts being written correctly. Docs I have worked with are fantastic, and want to ensure I have as smooth of a process as possible, I am just having a hard time finding information to give them, or if a general, "he's recovered and good to go" on my chart is enough. Basically the obstacle trying to get myself evaluated as I am now, all my genetic defects repaired, a relatively accomplished collegiate club athlete that is training for triathlon and ultramarathons.

Thanks in advance

Sorry to hear about the surgery man. I have a titanium collar bone so I have been wondering the same thing.Theres more educated people than me on hear, but from what i’ve gathered from searching through old threads is that there are a decent amount of people with retained hardware serving as pilots and NFOs. I’ll pm you the page from the NAMI waiver guide if that’s any help. It’s kinda vague just sounds like a case by case basis thing.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Words

Google “man med chapter 15” along with the NAMI guide if you are interested in aviation. Regardless, use both as a guide in terms of eligibility for service or special programs.

You might have to “dumb down” the search if you’re not finding things on your specific condition or issue.

At the very least I can imagine you’ll need a waiver.

 

[Titanium_Jaw_guy]

Thanks for the help, funny enough both conditions were right next to each other, p. 40 & 41. you were correct, I had to just search Jaw, and found the small subsection on ongoing malocclusion. The jaw surgery appears to be fine as long as it is charted as fixed, there are some threads that I have read that indicate a 6-12 month postoperative waiting period are required after that specific surgery. As far as my fun little cyst goes, it had to come out, and it is disqualifying, so there will 100% need to be a waiver for it and the fistula that came with it. So I will be in med waiver jail for a bit no matter what is written in the chart, especially with the lifetime hardware. Thanks for the help! Once all of this is done I'll write about what I can to help others.

@ChillBeast69 good luck with the titanium collarbone!

 

[ChillBeast69]

Thanks for the help, funny enough both conditions were right next to each other, p. 40 & 41. you were correct, I had to just search Jaw, and found the small subsection on ongoing malocclusion. The jaw surgery appears to be fine as long as it is charted as fixed, there are some threads that I have read that indicate a 6-12 month postoperative waiting period are required after that specific surgery. As far as my fun little cyst goes, it had to come out, and it is disqualifying, so there will 100% need to be a waiver for it and the fistula that came with it. So I will be in med waiver jail for a bit no matter what is written in the chart, especially with the lifetime hardware. Thanks for the help! Once all of this is done I'll write about what I can to help others.

@ChillBeast69 good luck with the titanium collarbone!

Hahah thanks man, likewise

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Your recruiter is probably anticipating MEPS declining to see you which leads to documents being submitted to N33 to force MEPS to see you if they see fit.

Just because your doctors feel you could do anything in the service doesn't mean the military will take that chance. There are many whos doctors have said they are 100% but were permanently disqualified just because they had the issue.

You could be facing a very long process.

 

[Titanium_Jaw_guy]

He didn’t seem concerned about the surgical adventure, I still 100% expect some resistance in the process, and just have to be ready to face some adversity. The docs ive seen are specialists with over 30 years in their specialty and are 100% confident in what I can do, luckily I’m not relying on the opinion of a GP. I’ll deal with the process whatever it takes, luckily I’m not trying to get in as soon as possible. As the saying goes prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Just trying to be prepared as well as I can. If there’s anything you’d suggest I should do in this process I’m all ears. I appreciate all the input I can get.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

He didn’t seem concerned about the surgical adventure, I still 100% expect some resistance in the process, and just have to be ready to face some adversity. The docs ive seen are specialists with over 30 years in their specialty and are 100% confident in what I can do, luckily I’m not relying on the opinion of a GP. I’ll deal with the process whatever it takes, luckily I’m not trying to get in as soon as possible. As the saying goes prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Just trying to be prepared as well as I can. If there’s anything you’d suggest I should do in this process I’m all ears. I appreciate all the input I can get.

Patience is what you will need to have a lot of.

When it comes to medical and dealing with the USN I have seen specialist say there is no longer and issue and the the USN say no, just for the fact the person at one point had that issue. One that stands out is a person that had a minor eye issue needing surgery, the fix was so good that the person who did the consult said if he hadn't been told what the issue had been he would have never know there was a surgery done or any issue at all, and he was DQ'd.

 

[Titanium_Jaw_guy]

Sadly all of this was done within the calendar year, so it’ll all be at the top of my medical record. Was that sailor disqualified for flight or for any service?
If I was truly disqualified from flight I still want to serve in another capacity, SWO, nuke etc. But getting rejected over a permanently solved issue has to be remarkably frustrating. The nature of the issue is not with vision, which makes me a bit more optimistic. I’ve definitely heard a lot of stories about people with allergies losing flight spots, regardless of whether they’re ever come in contact with the allergen ever. I’ll have to update this (if &) when I get through the process.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Sadly all of this was done within the calendar year, so it’ll all be at the top of my medical record. Was that sailor disqualified for flight or for any service?
If I was truly disqualified from flight I still want to serve in another capacity, SWO, nuke etc. But getting rejected over a permanently solved issue has to be remarkably frustrating. The nature of the issue is not with vision, which makes me a bit more optimistic. I’ve definitely heard a lot of stories about people with allergies losing flight spots, regardless of whether they’re ever come in contact with the allergen ever. I’ll have to update this (if &) when I get through the process.

It was from any service in the USN, and it was frustrating from the recruiter standpoint as well.

I feel one of the issues could be the retained hardware, that can be a tricky one for the USN.

I have seen people PDQ for a variety of reasons even though they are completely healed, I have seen some people cleared that also surprised me.