Posted on Oct 15, 2020
Steven Zhu
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Hey Yall, I've recently been DQ'd for my seafood allergies by the Chief Medical Officer at our local MEPs and was just wondering if I could potentially appeal this claim through either passing an oral food challenge by a board-certified allergist and then sending the results and applying for a medical waiver to the surgeon general? Any response would be greatly appreciated!
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Responses: 4
PO1 Jamie Springman
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Military service can place members in remote locations with limited food and healthcare options. For this reason, a history of systemic allergic reaction to food or food additives is a disqualifying medical condition for individuals seeking to join the military. Sensitization – that is, elevated food-specific IgE, but no clinical history of reaction symptoms when consuming the food – is not a disqualifying condition. The different service branches use different terms to define disqualifying food allergies. The U.S. Army definition is broader, referring to a “reliable history of a moderate to severe reaction to common foods, spices, or food additives,” whereas the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps definitions make specific references to a history of anaphylaxis.

An individual excluded from the Armed Services on the basis of food allergy history can request a waiver, which may be granted depending on the results of an appointment with an allergist. A waiver is unlikely if the allergist recommends that the prospective recruit carry an epinephrine auto-injector or if either the allergist or the recruit is reluctant to complete an oral food challenge.
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LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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depends on the severity of the allergy. I've known a couple of people who served with seafood allergies.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Must be bad enough if the CMO said "No."
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LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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MSG (Join to see) - it depends on the CMO and the MEPS. Some guys are just hyper cautious.
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SFC Station Commander
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What level allergy is it?
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