Medically Disqualifed at MEPS, Now What?

Navy Recruiting Medical Waiver Process

September 17th, 2009

Over the past couple of years, I have received a large number of emails asking me about the waiver process for medical issues. The Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) may have already permanently disqualified the individual, or is concerned they may have a condition which force them to endure the process and anxiety of the medical waiver.

First of all, the approval of a medical waiver is the responsibility of the Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC). The Admiral makes a decision with input from a qualified medical authority.

To dispel a myth, Navy Recruiting does not use the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) to make recommendations for an individual’s physical/psychological condition to enter Naval service.

Nearly a decade ago, in an effort to reduce applicant waiting time (which often times extended three months or more), CNRC added to the staff a medical department. Commander, Navy Recruiting Command’s medical staff (CNRC 00M) which includes a doctor and a small cadre of Navy Corpsman who work at the CNRC headquarters in Millington, Tn. now makes the medical recommendations to the Admiral in a fraction of the time.

The Process:

You first must be permanently disqualified (PDQ) by the MEPS medical department. The disqualification could come from your initial medical document reading, you do not make a trip to MEPS, or during your physical at the MEPS the doctor determines you to be permanently disqualified. Temporary disqualifications are not reviewed for medical waivers. Here is a post I made last year which lists many of the medical conditions that may be waiverable. Conditions not normally considered for a medical waiver.

If the MEPS PDQ’d you based on the medical documents submitted, CNRC 00M must direct MEPS, if 00M determines a waiver may be possible, to provide you with a physical. 00M’s direction to MEPS may include consultation(s), a visit to an outside specialist like an orthopedic doctor or a cardiologist.

Note: You need to be prepared to make more than one visit to MEPS depending on consultation requirements.

Once the final results of the MEPS physical and consultations are complete (including blood work), those results will be sent to 00M for review. 00M will then make a recommendation to the Admiral (usually within 3-5 days depending on back load).

If the MEPS PDQ’d you during the physical then 00M may direct further testing via consultation, or make a final recommendation to the Admiral for approval or disapproval without further medical tests.

I hope this helps you understand the process for a medical waiver, and hopefully make it a little less intimidating. As always, feel free to email your questions!

Waiver Process for Prior Drug and/or Alcohol Dependency

If you have been psychologically or physically dependent upon drugs or alcohol, recruiting personnel may request a Commander, Navy Recruiting Command eligibility determination when the pre-service dependency has been resolved in such a way that there is little likelihood that such behavior will recur. Your MEPS physical must include a psychiatric consultation.

You may be considered a good risk for entry into the Navy if:

  • a. You have successfully abstained from drugs and alcohol for more than two years,
  • b. Your employment history or school attendance subsequent to rehabilitation is favorable, and
  • c. You appear well motivated.
  • d. A minimum of two years has elapsed since release from treatment.

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Read Comments (8)

8 Comments »

  • Do i have to talk to a recruiter to submitted a waiver?

    Comment by vincent — January 9, 2010 @ 2:11 pm

  • Vincent,

    Before any waiver can be requested, you must first officially be disqualified by the MEPS. Before the MEPS can review your medical record(s), you must visit a recruiter who will submit the proper documentation.

    Comment by NCCM(ret) — January 9, 2010 @ 2:32 pm

  • I had been disqualified by MEPS back in December 2009 for hearing loss in my right ear at 4000HZ @60 DB (yeah only 5 decibels in one ear out of requirement…the left ear passes though). I retested again at MEPS with the same results, however when I went to my civilian doctor I passed with 55 DB of hearing loss in my right ear.
    My recruiter submitted my waiver app. in the beginning of January and now here it is middle of Feb. with the only reply from the navy being that of an inquiry of my daily/work activities and a statement saying that none of those activities are affected by my hearing loss. That paperwork was replied to at the end of January.
    My question now is, what is an estimate of how long this waiver process can take? Its going on a couple months of wait time and still nothing yet.

    Comment by Josh — February 16, 2010 @ 11:28 am

  • Josh,

    The length of time your waiver reply has taken is excessive. I would have your Recruiter ensure that the follow-up documentation that was requested at the end of Jan was actually received by the requesting authority.

    Comment by NCCM(ret) — February 16, 2010 @ 2:09 pm

  • Ok…so I’m now solely blowing up this blog…

    My recruiter called me today and said that I have to go back to MEPS for a THIRD visit. This time he said that it is for a consult with the doctor and says if all goes well there that I will be probably given a contract on that visit. Now what I am wondering is why are they having me in there for another time? I already tested the first visit (twice) and once again on my second visit. Each time with basically the same results while using the MEPS equipment. When I tested at my civilian audiologist I passed with the minimum requirements, but I passed. So, is this going to prolly be a doctor interview and he/she uses their judgment to give a yay or nay or do you think it will be another audio test to determine eligibility?

    Comment by Josh — February 17, 2010 @ 2:31 pm

  • Josh,

    No, if they are sending you on a consult it means they are sending you to a contracted doctor (off site, most likely another audiologist) to get another reading. The reading they get from the consult will be the one they use for determining your eligibility. I HIGHLY recommend that between now and the consult you wear hearing protection, and avoid loud music!

    Comment by NCCM(ret) — February 17, 2010 @ 2:54 pm

  • So if I pass then I pass…however if I don’t pass can they still grant me a waiver or is it the end of the line? Considering the fact that a waiver is for something that is a current issue…e.g. I wouldn’t need the waiver if my hearing passes at the consult doctor, I would simply be approved on the basis that my hearing is acceptable.

    Also is the paperwork/test/recommendation from the civilian audiologist that I already seen a few weeks ago (and passed the audiology exam btw) going to help my case at all??? Sorry for all the questions, I’m just freaking out with all the anticipation and hoops I have been having to jump through.

    Comment by Josh — February 17, 2010 @ 4:01 pm

  • The documentation from your doctor is what got you the second look (the consult) – so it did help your case, but won’t be used to determine eligibility.

    The standard for passing the hearing portion of the physical (for the Navy) is; “Pure tone hearing loss at 500, 1000, 2000 Hz of not more than 30 db on average with no individual level greater than 35 db at these frequencies in either ear. Pure tone hearing loss at 3000 Hz of not more than 45 db and 4000 Hz not more than 55 db in either ear.”

    For waiver consideration, the book says, “Hearing loss not greater than 40 db in up to two (2) frequencies beyond the 2000 range standards.” I understand that to mean – if your other freq ranges above 2000 HZ are below 40db loss then the 60db loss at 4000 HZ may be reviewed. As I have never seen that circumstance, I do not know the waiver chances for such.

    Comment by NCCM(ret) — February 17, 2010 @ 4:24 pm

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