Can someone get a waiver for Spondylosis for the Coast Guard?

2019-04-30T19:30:11-04:00

Joined the Navy’s DEP department in March of 2017, got a contract for AIRR and had a ship date of Jan 2018. In Nov 2017, I had a stress fracture in my l5-s1 and spondylosis. Went to physical therapy, healed, and got all the paperwork and got PDQ by MEPS. Went into the Coast Guard office the next month and got more paperwork supporting my problem and that it’s healed and no more problems. Send in the waiver today to go to CG HQ. Has anybody heard about somebody getting cleared for spondylosis or has had this themselves? How optimistic should I be? The doc at MEPS wrote a good report about it on the PDQ paperwork and said a waiver was suggested. I have great PT scores and I have an ASVAB score of 69. 55 pushups, 62 sit-ups, 6 pull up, 8:27 550yd swim

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2019 8:14 PM

2019-04-30T20:14:16-04:00

Treatment can help, but this condition can't be cured.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Apr 30 at 2019 10:47 PM

2019-04-30T22:47:24-04:00

Spondylosis has no cure nor would surgery be recommended at this time. It’s quite common in the lumbar spine and can worsen over time, especially as one ages.

The upside of joining up depends on the needs of the service and how good your medical documentation with CT Scan or MRI reflects your health, a waiver might be considered by the medical board. I’ve known of officers with limited duty accessions, however they are given a specified period of time to demonstrate full capabilities or they face discharge. In your case, symptomolgy can change, and possibly make you a casualty for your command which affects mission. It’s a tough call for a service enlisting anyone with a known medical condition that historically will worsen over time with age, occupation, hobbies, etc.

As a former Navy Recruiter, always worth asking for a waiver but be prepared for a let down, yet hope for the best. Regardless of the military outcome, you have a full life to look forward to and the knowledge how to manage your symptoms when they pop up. Good luck!