Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 6/19/2008

Question
I was wondering if having Systemic Lupus can be waivered if I was to join the military, my recruits don't seem to understand or probably haven't heard of this illness, so I was wondering if anyone knew???
Thanks~

Answer
Dear Stephanie --

If you have active signs and symptoms of Systemic Lupus, you are unlikely to qualify for military service.  The stress of military service is likely to aggravate pre-existing conditions such as Lupus.  Even if your Lupus is under control, stress can offset your balance, and cause you to be unable to perform your military duties due to worsened Lupus symptoms.

That is a long way of saying, if you have been diagnosed with SLE, you will be disqualified from service.  If you have active symptoms, it is not waiverable.

If instead you have unexplained signs and symptoms that the doctors "think might be Lupus" but they have not given you that diagnosis, it is possible you could enlist.  However, if it turns out that your symptoms worsen, and you knew, or should have known that you had Lupus, you can be charged with fraudulent enlistment.

Good luck to you both with SLE and with finding the right employment.