The Doctor is in! Ask a Flight Surgeon!

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hi all,

I am a senior NROTC midshipman (graduating late) and am working through the aviation medical process right now. I haven’t done the eye exam yet but I did the physical exam and testing. I understand that there was a NAVADMIN recently published detailing several conditions for which a waiver will not be recommended. One of those conditions is Autism. When I was 4, I was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, which if I understand now is just wrapped up under the Autism Spectrum umbrella. Later, the words Asperger’s and General Anxiety Disorder popped up on pharmaceutical records. For context, I took buspirone for about two years in elementary/middle school. I haven’t taken it in over ten years. This was an issue back when I applied for my NROTC scholarship. I underwent extensive evaluations for Autism, and I scored normal on ALL of them. The psychologist I saw wrote that I do not meet the criteria for Asperger’s, autism, or anxiety. However, it feels that the word “Asperger’s” has been permanently stamped in my medical file for the navy. I didn’t conceal anything in the flight physical questionnaire - I reported the past diagnosis and handed the flight surgeon the aforementioned report. The doc let me explain my “history” of Asperger’s and said the report looked good.

While this was reassuring, the new NAVADMIN for waivers is pretty damming. I feel like if NAMI looks at my case I have a good chance of getting cleared - however, that document seems to make it pretty clear that they won’t even look. I feel like my psychological report makes it pretty clear I don’t actually have any of this stuff and gives proper evidence. I’ve been working with my NROTC unit and the person in charge of coordinating medical stuff is optimistic. What are my chances/is there anything more I can do to strengthen my case/advocate for myself more? The prospect of not even being considered due to such a new policy change is just so disheartening.

Check out some of @Mouselovr ‘s posts, particularly about NAMI.

 

[Gatordev]

It sounds to me like you don't have a history of Autism. You have a document stating that any previous diagnosis was in error. That's a (relatively) good place to be, medically.

After fighting with NAMI for 20 months and finally getting a diagnosis reversed, I never put I had history of the original diagnosis down on in any subsequent medical paperwork because I truly didn't have a history of it. I just had a history of being misdiagnosed.

Now, all that said, I can also sympathize that NAMI might not make all of this as black and white as I've stated, and thus the problem with NAMI. But I'd continue to use your unit staff, as they're your best advocate right now. I would just encourage them to continue to wave that misdiagnosis letter in NAMI's face as much as possible when necessary.

 

[Ygracia20]

I am currently down at NASP getting my long form physical completed, and I had to go to some specialists at NHP regarding some incidental findings on a ct scan. Although I was cleared from the specialist as NCD for whatever was found, I did notice on the clinical report in genesis that my BP was registered as 133/93 and technically it’s not supposed to be greater than 140/90. My question is will NAMI kick back my waivers/upchit because of that high reading or will they only utilize the bp reading on my long form physical which measured at 138/86?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I am currently down at NASP getting my long form physical completed, and I had to go to some specialists at NHP regarding some incidental findings on a ct scan. Although I was cleared from the specialist as NCD for whatever was found, I did notice on the clinical report in genesis that my BP was registered as 133/93 and technically it’s not supposed to be greater than 140/90. My question is will NAMI kick back my waivers/upchit because of that high reading or will they only utilize the bp reading on my long form physical which measured at 138/86?

Do you think 3 points will matter?

 

[Gagarin]

I understand that there was a NAVADMIN recently published detailing several conditions for which a waiver will not be recommended.

Out of curiosity, do you have a link to this NAVADMIN handy?

 

[ETKish]

Out of curiosity, do you have a link to this NAVADMIN handy?

https://www.med.navy.mil/Portals/62/Documents/NMFSC/NMOTC/NAMI/ARWG/AWRG%20COMPLETE_250804.pdf?ver=12kPsXWr2buyxp_BL0ewAw%3D%3D

Pages 11-15 of the waiver guide

 

[mpesposito]

Just got cleared today!

Congrats!! That’s great news for you. I have a history of taking SSRI medication and I saw a therapist for just over a year, with the last visit being almost 3.5 years ago. The problem was I had one ER visit 9.5 years ago where I reported a brief thought of self harm (more like an intrusive thought in hindsight) and 5 uses of Marijuana. Hoping for the best and have my medical records ready, but trying to mentally prepare myself if I can’t get through. I’m on no meds now at 28 years old and never been better, never had any loss of work or function etc. My old therapist has agreed to write to my recruiter on my behalf as well so I’m hopeful