Expert: Larry Weaver - 10/12/2009

Question
QUESTION: My nephew is in basic training for the Army and he has called home to say that they gave him the H1N1 flu spray. He told us everyone got sick with the flu and they are now telling him he is being sent home due to having asthma. He has never had asthma before. Why can they not test him again to see that this could just be because they gave him the h1n1 spray and he has developed the flu. We are not understanding how he could have past all the physicals and has been participating in all the PE programs and just now they are telling the boy he has asthma. Can you please tell us what to have him do. Should he request to be seen by another doctor in the military. Thank you

ANSWER: This does not add up. The army is too hard up to drum him out the army on a medical discharge due to this. There must be more to the story. Thousands in the army have asthma. I would say there is something else here. Read his medical paperwork closer, as I suspect there is additional information to this situation. On face value, of course this would need another exam. If they did this to everyone like your nephew, then everyone would be claiming asthma to get out the army. Please read the fine print and get a copy of his paperwork for the family doctor to review.

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QUESTION: What recourse do we have if he comes home and the family doctor does not find he has asthma?

ANSWER: There is a medical appeals process for problems like this. He would have to be re-evaluated by the army. The army would direct him where to go and what to do. His local VA center would guidance of where to go, as well as his last duty station, and his paperwork should have a point of contact to start the process. Don't take no for any answer. The army is generally very cooperative if he wants to stay in the army. They will work with him.

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QUESTION: His last duty station is basic. So we should still go to the Va Center?

Answer
Seeing how his discharge is somewhat fresh, he may still have access to this last duty station. Another option is the army homepage website. I used them for my retiree recall and they currently handle these information requests. Try voice numbers there as you will get quicker response times. They have points of contact for appeals. Also, the local army recruiters handle this question alot too and have actual knowledge of the current system. During peacetime as when I was in, this would move at a snails pace. But now adays things are different and computerized. He will still get the old army run around and caught in loops and play phone tag, but at least it won't take years like pre-9/11 era. The main army medical corps website has points of contacts for appeals etc. I used them and got humans on the other line. I would say your daughter who is an RN would also know the medical jargon and language of how to talk to them. I think she would be critical assistance as she knows which questions to ask and knows the lingo. Like having a mechanic help you will a car repair garage bill.