My chances of a medical waiver for meps

Torres

PEB Forum Regular Member
Registered Member
About a month ago I got a letter from the navy saying that I was not able to enlist due to having retained hardware on my left leg. I was confused because at MEPS I saw in my file “waiver recommended” I was bummed out, and my recruiter didn’t understand. In the end they recommended me to go to the Air Force because they actually believed that I should’ve been able to join(which was actually what I wanted to go talk to first). I talked with my recruiter and he told me to go see a specialist(I went to the same one that did my surgery). He gave me a paper saying that nothing is wrong and that I was cleared join(I was surprised when he told me that he was an Air Force vet). I gave that form to my recruiter and he submitted it to the Surgeon General. I just wanna know if I have a chance getting into the Air Force. I got a S/P ORIF on my left tibia back in 2014. An IM ROD with 4screws. 2 around my ankle and 2 below the knee. I have no pain at all and full motion. I run almost everyday with no issues. It’s been 26 days since everything was submitted to the Surgeon General I was doing my research and stumbled upon this but I don’t know if it’s outdated or if I’m looking into the right things
 

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You have a chance. I recruited for the last 3 years before I was recommended for a Med Board. Now I work at MEPS in the Navy office till I receive orders.

I've put people in with retained hardware before. Did they have you write a hand written statement to go with your doctor releasing you to full unrestricted activity? We usually send for medical waivers to N3M if the MEPS doctor requires a waiver. I've also had them denied as well and one guy is currently in the air force now. So there is a chance.

Ask your Navy recruiter if the EPDS at MEPS sent up a N3M waiver.
 
You have a chance. I recruited for the last 3 years before I was recommended for a Med Board. Now I work at MEPS in the Navy office till I receive orders.

I've put people in with retained hardware before. Did they have you write a hand written statement to go with your doctor releasing you to full unrestricted activity? We usually send for medical waivers to N3M if the MEPS doctor requires a waiver. I've also had them denied as well and one guy is currently in the air force now. So there is a chance.

Ask your Navy recruiter if the EPDS at MEPS sent up a N3M waiver.

No my navy recruiter didn’t have me hand write anything, and in the end they told me to go to the Air Force Station(next door). Long story short; The Navy recruiters believed that I should’ve been able to enlist and personally told an Air Force recruiter( which is my current recruiter) my situation. My file got sent to my AF recruiter and he then sent it to the surgeon General. I’m just waiting to hear back from the SG to see if I could get approved for a waiver. I do have other questions Mk45Gunner if you don’t mind me asking. Like if the Surgeon General approves me for a waiver, does it have more of a say than the opinions of the people at MEPS? And is the N3M Waiver strictly just for the Navy or does that Waiver apply to all branches that go through MEPS?
 
The N3M waiver is the equivalent to the Air Force Surgeon General. The Navy should've sent it to N3M and it sounds like they didnt. Normally we have any waivers sent up with a HWS from the applicants.

If the Surgeon General approves it, MEPS cannot overturn it.
 
The N3M waiver is the equivalent to the Air Force Surgeon General. The Navy should've sent it to N3M and it sounds like they didnt. Normally we have any waivers sent up with a HWS from the applicants.

If the Surgeon General approves it, MEPS cannot overturn it.

The Navy Recruiting Command did send me a letter saying that I didn’t meet the physical standards outlined in The Manual of the Medical Department Chapter 15. I honestly feel like I was denied because my retained hardware wouldn
 
Ok so they did send it. I've also seen requests for reconsiderations sent as well. If the Air Force denies you, I'd suggest trying again. This time include a hand written statement explaining to them in your words how you have no ill effects or limitations from the hardware and how you want nothing more than the opportunity to serve your country in the Navy.
 
Because my retained hardware would’ve interfered with the boots being worn. Do you personally feel that the Air Force would deny me for the same reason, or would they take my surgery lighter. I’m sorry for asking so many questions. Thank you for filling in the blanks. You honestly took off a whooole lot of stress
 
No problem. I've recieved a lot of help from this forum and feel it's the least I can do but stick around and help where I can. Unless its sticking ojt of your skin or you lack range of motion I dont think thats why.
 
No problem. I've recieved a lot of help from this forum and feel it's the least I can do but stick around and help where I can. Unless its sticking ojt of your skin or you lack range of motion I dont think thats why.
Can you elaborate when you say that’s its sticking out of my skin? Because for me. You can’t tell that I have screws on my leg but when I run my fingers on the screws then that’s when you can feel them
 
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