Expert: Howard Lorenz - 3/28/2009

Question
QUESTION: i was just told today i am PDQ from Navy cause of psoriasis.  It is a mild case and does not affect me in any way.  Is there any way I can still get in or do something, this is something I really want to do.  Can you point me in the right direction or give me some advice on trying to pursue this. thanks

ANSWER: Where is it and what does it look like...

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: it is on my knees and elbows, and scalp, it is red patches and sometimes it gets flaky when it dries, i try to keep it moisturized with regular lotion. It doesn't hurt or anything hardly ever itches.

Answer
I think that the services use this as an excuse sometimes to exclude alot of potential applicants from entering service.. I think what they are more afraid of is that the conditions of desert service will compound and aggravate your current condition. This is not a Navy call, this call comes from the DoD or Department of Defense. The DoD has entery level standards that they impose on all services as a minimum guideline for entry level standard. It is in my belief that there are SEVERAL of these DoD standards that need to be reviewed and changed because the advances in technology allow for the conditions. But as you already know... that is WAY above my pay grade.

If you want to dispute the Navy's call on your PDQ, you can take and write your congressman or state senator a letter and have them take another look. But you better have some fresh documents from more than one doc, i.e. letters from the dermatologists stating that YOUR condition is acceptable for service.

Usually in most all cases when the DoD and the service makes a final decision its final..Good Luck!!

H