Expert: Matt - 8/30/2009

Question
Just Wondering about a medical waiver that was submitted for me and its chances of getting passed. I had documented treatment of asthma after my 13th birthday but now am trying to join the Navy under the HPSP scholarship for PA's. This process started back in February when my recruiter told me I had to submit all medical documents to BUMED and see if they wanted to process me through MEPS. Once I did this, she told me that the medical board at BUMED wanted to see a pulmonary function test and a letter from a private physician regarding my asthma history. I did this and passed the test with normal results and had the doctor write up letter saying in his opinion the asthma diagnosis was incorrect. After this, my recruiter received an email saying that I was good to go through MEPS for further evaluation of the asthma. The MEPS doctor said I showed no symptoms and recommended a waiver calling it reactive airway disease and said I should have no problem with the waiver. My recruiter seems to think that since the docs up at BUMED already know about the condition (before I went to MEPS) and since all the documents support my health then I should be confident that it will get through. However, since my school starts in January of 2010, she told met hey will not look at my package and consider it for review until at least October when the new fiscal year starts. I am very anxious about this and it has been going on forever. Do you have any insight? Is this timeline normal? And based on my description, in your opinion, will the waiver be passed through?

Answer
The delay is normal, I had a waiver for a broken leg and the waiver board only convenes several times a year. And  your recruiter is correct, the next logical board will be in early oct due to the start of the new fiscal year. Your waiver process sounds about normal on the timeline, and at this point you have done everything you can do, so just sit back, try to relax and enjoy your time off as a civilian, because you won't have much free time once you begin going to PA school. Best of luck, it sounds like youre going to do just fine. See ya out there.