Posted on Nov 19, 2016
Is it possible to enlist with a previous disc injury?
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A herniation of a lumbar disc that did not require surgical intervention and has not prevented the person from being physically active/passing physicals/working physically demanding jobs, specifically. What would someone have to do to get into the military with a previous injury like that, is it even possible?
Re-enlistment
Medicine
Waivers
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 15
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All the documents need to get to the physician at MEPS to review everything. Most likely submission of a waiver would be required. But I would say that it might be possible.
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SPC Steven Schoenhut
Everything is possible with a waiver... Just have to find someone that wants to take on the work of it.
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Yes it is possible. All that is needed is complete documentation by a MD that specializes in the field. To basically give a waiver. I have seen plenty of Airborne soldiers with broken backs that have re-uped.
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I admire anyone that wants to serve. I especially admire someone who wants to serve bad enough that they would overcome additional adversity to do it. I am not a doctor and do not know the additional risks. But isn't the potential of lifelong debilitating pain, or worse, a clear signal to think about a different career? I would strongly advise the person talk to an appropriate medical specialist before I gave any additional advice.
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PFC Jim Wheeler
I guess that depends on your perspective; military service has always come with the potential of lifelong debilitating pain.
I imagine they would really need to talk to a professional either way to get some type of documentation to show they are fit for duty.
I imagine they would really need to talk to a professional either way to get some type of documentation to show they are fit for duty.
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Maj John Bell
PFC Jim Wheeler - I understand what you are saying, but my knees were healthy when I entered the service....
I like to know what kind of odds the bookmakers are giving before I bet my health.
I like to know what kind of odds the bookmakers are giving before I bet my health.
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If I had to say "Undiagnosed" is a great word. I have Viral Bursitis in Both Shoulders but it wasn't diagnosed until well into My Career but only lost the use of my arms for 2 weeks a long time ago and no one questioned it. I also have a Pilonidal Cyst that exempted Rush Limbaugh from Military Service (I had one for 21 years in the Navy only made it uncomfortable to sit for a couple weeks)
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See your local Army Recruiter Wil th all medical records records, MRIs etc.
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It's a disqualifier and very unlikely to get a waiver. I had a guy with lordosis who wrestled, worked at a farm store, and was a big strapping guy. His waiver was denied.
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PFC Jim Wheeler
Would it make a difference if it never required any medical attention at all? No professional rehab, care, or anything besides the diagnostic procedure (MRI)?
What if the person was able to get documentation fron a specialist that declared him/her fit for duty? No difference?
What if the person was able to get documentation fron a specialist that declared him/her fit for duty? No difference?
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SFC Joseph Weber
PFC Jim Wheeler - we hadn't letters from his doctor, his coaches, his employer. He had never had any serious health issue. Ebery case is different. Won't hurt to try.
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They will have to clear the physical and if it is in your medical records already you will have to get a waiver. I answer a lot of these and always assert that they are all decided on a case by case basis. What has happened, where is the person now, and what is the long term prognosis. I don't have a medical standards guide in front of me, but different career fields (and services) will call for different type of physicals as well. For instance an admin clerk and a firefighter have way different qualification standards. Again I can't speak to it being disqualifying with out the standards guide, which is always changing. When someone that has been out of the military for a period of time advises you that you won't get a waiver and they are going off what a guy told a friend of a guy they knew... they are usually wrong. Talk to the recruiter, a doc, and you will have to weigh the real idea of aggravating it further with your career choice, and go from there. Good luck.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
PFC Jim Wheeler Refused to see the PA? And did not recieve ANY record of your injury? So typical of young people - problems need to be reported- treated- and recorded!
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PFC Jim Wheeler
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 No argument there, CSM.
As a clarification, my wording here was a bit strong. I did see the PA after the event in question, but I specifically requested not to be put on profile. I receieved a knee brace from the brace shop (I fell on it awkwardly), but was told a few weeks after by some CSM (I didn't know him) at PT that I couldn't wear it without a profile, so I quit wearing it. I always just assumed the pain was from a minor sprain/strain, and that it didn't affect me that much.
My COC did not look well upon junior enlisted soldiers who went to sick call and got put in profile, and I underestimated the severity of the injuries. I saw how other soldiers in the company were treated when they were hurt, and I didn't want to be them.
By the time I went to get a profile (recommended at that point by my section Sgt), my CO had already decided I was malingering and refused my PL and PSG's request for additional time.
To be clear, I don't blame any of my leadership for this. I was young and naive, but I was still an adult and it was my responsibility to take care of myself.
As a clarification, my wording here was a bit strong. I did see the PA after the event in question, but I specifically requested not to be put on profile. I receieved a knee brace from the brace shop (I fell on it awkwardly), but was told a few weeks after by some CSM (I didn't know him) at PT that I couldn't wear it without a profile, so I quit wearing it. I always just assumed the pain was from a minor sprain/strain, and that it didn't affect me that much.
My COC did not look well upon junior enlisted soldiers who went to sick call and got put in profile, and I underestimated the severity of the injuries. I saw how other soldiers in the company were treated when they were hurt, and I didn't want to be them.
By the time I went to get a profile (recommended at that point by my section Sgt), my CO had already decided I was malingering and refused my PL and PSG's request for additional time.
To be clear, I don't blame any of my leadership for this. I was young and naive, but I was still an adult and it was my responsibility to take care of myself.
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PFC Jim Wheeler
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 it would have been more accurate for me to have said I refused to be placed on profile than to see the PA in general.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
PFC Jim Wheeler Adulthood, age, position and education do not help humans make the wisest decisions. Most of us are living examples of bad decisions.
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The biggest question would be "are there any limitations" and the second question "could the Army, in the future be put on the hook for a previous injury/illness?" if the answer is no to both, you may be cleared by the MEPS doctor. You should review AR 40-501 for in depth review http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/r40_501.pdf
The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are: "e. Healed fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae (805). A compression fracture, involving less than 25 percent of
a single vertebra is not disqualifying if the injury occurred more than 1 year before examination and the applicant is asymptomatic. A history of fractures of the transverse or spinous processes is not disqualifying if the applicant is asymptomatic."
The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are: "e. Healed fractures or dislocations of the vertebrae (805). A compression fracture, involving less than 25 percent of
a single vertebra is not disqualifying if the injury occurred more than 1 year before examination and the applicant is asymptomatic. A history of fractures of the transverse or spinous processes is not disqualifying if the applicant is asymptomatic."
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probably would need to be medically evaluated to determine eligibility for enlistment.
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