Posted on Jan 24, 2020
Is it possible to get a waiver for a cervical herniated disc?
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Hello,
I was wondering if it is possible to get a waiver for a cervical herniated disc, if I can prove it doesn't impact my life (it has been 3 years, no surgery, took PT)? My recruiter told me I'd need a waiver most likely, but it has been two weeks and he won't answer anymore. I live 4 counties away from the nearest recruiting station so I can't exactly get up and see him (I do not own a car).
Does anyone know if this is possible? What would I need to do if it is possible?
Thank you for reading,
I was wondering if it is possible to get a waiver for a cervical herniated disc, if I can prove it doesn't impact my life (it has been 3 years, no surgery, took PT)? My recruiter told me I'd need a waiver most likely, but it has been two weeks and he won't answer anymore. I live 4 counties away from the nearest recruiting station so I can't exactly get up and see him (I do not own a car).
Does anyone know if this is possible? What would I need to do if it is possible?
Thank you for reading,
Posted in these groups: 
Waivers
Waivers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
Here is what the Medical Requirements that all of Department of Defense must follow in regards to herniated discs. These are the disqualifying conditions:
1) History of uncorrected herniated nucleus pulposus associated with any treatment,
symptoms, or activity limitations.
2) History of surgery to correct herniated nucleus pulposus other than a single-level lumbar
or thoracic diskectomy that is currently asymptomatic with full resumption of unrestricted
activity for at least 12 months
Even if you can prove it does not bother you, getting a waiver will be extremely difficult. Also, if your Recruiter is no longer answering you, call the station and ask to speak with the Station Commander and express this situation that your Recruiter is no longer answering you and not giving you any updates.
1) History of uncorrected herniated nucleus pulposus associated with any treatment,
symptoms, or activity limitations.
2) History of surgery to correct herniated nucleus pulposus other than a single-level lumbar
or thoracic diskectomy that is currently asymptomatic with full resumption of unrestricted
activity for at least 12 months
Even if you can prove it does not bother you, getting a waiver will be extremely difficult. Also, if your Recruiter is no longer answering you, call the station and ask to speak with the Station Commander and express this situation that your Recruiter is no longer answering you and not giving you any updates.
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(Join to see)
Thank you for responding to my question,
I think I should clarify that my herniated disk is on my neck, and my doctors classified it as a hernia, but I will talk with my doctor again for further details if it will help.
As for the waiver, is it possible still to get a waiver even if it is difficult? I will fight with everything if I can, because as far as I'm aware from my doctors, hernias like these are not even capable of ever completely going away, just resolving in symptoms to normalcy. I was enlisting at the time of my injury, and I was doing all of this stuff to get back in shape to continue my enlistment.
And for the recruiter, I will do just that, thank you for letting me know about this. Hopefully I can get that situation resolved, at least.
I think I should clarify that my herniated disk is on my neck, and my doctors classified it as a hernia, but I will talk with my doctor again for further details if it will help.
As for the waiver, is it possible still to get a waiver even if it is difficult? I will fight with everything if I can, because as far as I'm aware from my doctors, hernias like these are not even capable of ever completely going away, just resolving in symptoms to normalcy. I was enlisting at the time of my injury, and I was doing all of this stuff to get back in shape to continue my enlistment.
And for the recruiter, I will do just that, thank you for letting me know about this. Hopefully I can get that situation resolved, at least.
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MSG (Join to see)
(Join to see) - You are probably going to want to get your hands on all of the medical documentation for this herniated disc. Up to, and including all treatment prescribed and performed, and what the doctor gave you for a prognosis.
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(Join to see)
MSG (Join to see) - Thank you for the reply.
That is easy enough to get. I have everything on hand already. MRI, list of PT schedules, medications and whatever else I may be missing my doctor can easily get for me. Once I have this, do I just bring it to my recruiter?
That is easy enough to get. I have everything on hand already. MRI, list of PT schedules, medications and whatever else I may be missing my doctor can easily get for me. Once I have this, do I just bring it to my recruiter?
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Anything is possible. Probable is another thing.
I had exercise induced asthma when I enlisted. That is, physical excursion was the only thing that would trigger an asthma attack. It was like trying to run and breathe through a regular sized drinking straw. It kept me out of the Marines, but the Navy granted me a waver because I was able to prove that I could still run (barley) the 1.5 miles the Navy required me to in order to pass the cardio portion of the physical fitness tests, which was the only time I had been required to run.
That being said, this is going to be like you're on trial. You're going to have to prove that your disc herniation will not negatively affect you enlisting. And just like a trial, you're going to need as much evidence so you can find to prove this.
I work in orthopedics, so... you already know an x-ray isn't going to prove anything, but a MRI will. Also, talk to your spine specialist and let him/her know that you want to enlist in the military. If your spine specialist is willing, he/she could write a letter in support of you enlisting. It would help build your case to have a letter from a doctor stating that he/she feels your disc herniation will not negatively affect you enlisting in the military.
At any rate, it's always best to request the waver because you never know. I honestly thought I'd never be able to enlist in any branch in the military because of my asthma. And yes... I tried to hide it and was doing well until that first physical fitness test in basic training. They found out as I was having a hard time breathing after the first mile and sent me to medical for an evaluation. They didn't grant me my waver until I was a week away from graduation.
I had exercise induced asthma when I enlisted. That is, physical excursion was the only thing that would trigger an asthma attack. It was like trying to run and breathe through a regular sized drinking straw. It kept me out of the Marines, but the Navy granted me a waver because I was able to prove that I could still run (barley) the 1.5 miles the Navy required me to in order to pass the cardio portion of the physical fitness tests, which was the only time I had been required to run.
That being said, this is going to be like you're on trial. You're going to have to prove that your disc herniation will not negatively affect you enlisting. And just like a trial, you're going to need as much evidence so you can find to prove this.
I work in orthopedics, so... you already know an x-ray isn't going to prove anything, but a MRI will. Also, talk to your spine specialist and let him/her know that you want to enlist in the military. If your spine specialist is willing, he/she could write a letter in support of you enlisting. It would help build your case to have a letter from a doctor stating that he/she feels your disc herniation will not negatively affect you enlisting in the military.
At any rate, it's always best to request the waver because you never know. I honestly thought I'd never be able to enlist in any branch in the military because of my asthma. And yes... I tried to hide it and was doing well until that first physical fitness test in basic training. They found out as I was having a hard time breathing after the first mile and sent me to medical for an evaluation. They didn't grant me my waver until I was a week away from graduation.
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I don't know why you even brought it up if it dose'nt bother you. Are they gonna do an MRI when you get your physical? Even if they did an x-ray it won't reveal a herniation do you know how many people are walking around out there with undiagnosed herniated disc's? It may never be problem, my wife is 68 and has six herniated disc's in all three sections (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) she works like a horse. But if you are asked if you have prior medical problems I would tell the truth but when I went in the Army in 78 they did not ask or I don't remember if they asked.
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Hello,
I'm brought it up because I don't know if it will disqualify me even should it not bother me, because my recruiter stopped answering me as soon as he found out. And he did ask about prior medical problems, several times. And then asked for medical documents, which had my history in it.
And yes, I'm aware how many people are walking around with herniated disks. When I got injured, it was something my physical therapist and my doctors told me. I just wasn't sure if my recruiter dropping me was a sure sign that it ended there because of the herniated disc history and wanted to ask here if it was possible to fight for a waiver.
Thank you for replying,
I'm brought it up because I don't know if it will disqualify me even should it not bother me, because my recruiter stopped answering me as soon as he found out. And he did ask about prior medical problems, several times. And then asked for medical documents, which had my history in it.
And yes, I'm aware how many people are walking around with herniated disks. When I got injured, it was something my physical therapist and my doctors told me. I just wasn't sure if my recruiter dropping me was a sure sign that it ended there because of the herniated disc history and wanted to ask here if it was possible to fight for a waiver.
Thank you for replying,
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SPC Richard Zacke
You did'nt give your age or exactly how this happen, car wreck? The SFC that responed before me is in the medical field and knows more than I do about this. What I'm getting at is your age because when I enlisted you had to be 26 or under and I went right out of high school on the 6 month delayed enlistment program. I believe the Army would consider a wavier if you are 18 or 19 I have read that a 35 year old enlisted and I could'nt believe it...the reason for the age thing is that DDD (degenertive disc disease) gets worse with age and if you got in on a waiver and it got worse I don't know if you could claim disability benefits or not. The Army has changed so much since I enlisted...but I do know if you have a pre-exsiting medical condition and it gets worse due to active duty you may be on your own. And again I don't know the new rules but if you really want to serve your country do as the SFC suggested and call the staition commander and tell your story....if you don't like his anwser call or write your your Senator or do what I did to get my 8th back surgery, serve connected, write the Commander-In-Cheif he came through for me in February by having his staff call my VA outpatient center... He even sent me a christmas card sign by himself, his son Baron and his wife Malonia, of course it was a stamp signature, but I appreciated it just the same. Good luck and if you want it bad enough fight kick scracth and claw till you get it.
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SPC Richard Zacke - Hello,
My bad, I forgot that information, completely slipped my mind. I'm 26 (trying to join with my sisters who just got in (one is 25 and the other is 27)) and I got the injury from someone rear-ending the vehicle I was in. It wasn't a horrible accident or anything, just strangely strong enough to harm me.
Thank you Richard Zacke, your story gives me a great deal of hope! I will do exactly that. I'm waiting for the station to call me back, but if I don't get any help/information from them, I'm contacting my Senator and then the Commander-In-Cheif.
Thank you for your reply,
My bad, I forgot that information, completely slipped my mind. I'm 26 (trying to join with my sisters who just got in (one is 25 and the other is 27)) and I got the injury from someone rear-ending the vehicle I was in. It wasn't a horrible accident or anything, just strangely strong enough to harm me.
Thank you Richard Zacke, your story gives me a great deal of hope! I will do exactly that. I'm waiting for the station to call me back, but if I don't get any help/information from them, I'm contacting my Senator and then the Commander-In-Cheif.
Thank you for your reply,
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