Aviation Medicine

Does anyone have recommendations on companies that help Veterans increase their VA disability percentage. I know there are a few out there but I’d like to go to one that someone can recommend. So far I’ve looked into: Ree Medical DBQreview and before someone mentions that I can just do it on my own. Yes I know but it took two years and hours of phone calls just to get the VA to schedule a hearing test for me so if I can avoid that hassle and even get an additional 10% it will be worth the fee of what these places are charging. I just want to be sure they aren’t a scam.

My son is a firstie at Camp USAFA and learned yesterday that his waiver for drusen, submitted his third degree year, was denied. At the time the wavier was submitted, he was lead to believe the condition was wave-able. In fact, he received his pilot slot last year. The news yesterday was quite a blow. I've reviewed the Waiver Guide updated Nov 07, and have learned that for FC I/IA individuals, the condition is not eligible for waiver. Two questions: Is there any sort of appeal process or other avenues available to "fight" the denial? Would drusen prevent him from cross-commissioning and flying with another branch? He's taking things in stride and is scrambli…

Howdy Everybody! I'm an 06OT05 pilot select with a foot problem. First, the medical background. I have a case of Hallux Limitus in my right big toe. Basically, I don't have the range-of-motion to bend my toe beyond 20 degrees or so. Due to this I cannot run very fast if at all; basically I "shuffle" more than I run because of my toe. I cannot "shuffle" at the pace required for 1.5-mile run that is part of the PFT. There are two treatments available; an orthotic or a cheilectomy. The orthotic, a non-surgical option, is already on order. It may allow me to run at a pace that may meet the Air Force PFT standards. The orthotic will not, however, heal my Hall…

Hey everyone, I did a search on this and couldn't find what I was looking for in the way of advice. Basically I'm a T-1 student, only about a month from graduation, navigation and transition checks complete with good scores. Recently I was at the gym and seemed to injure myself on the bench press. No severe pain but some tightness in my shoulder and chest that made it uncomfortable to lift anymore. I took some time off of it (about a week) and tried to do some pushups and the pain came back. I layed off of any exercise for a couple more days and tried pushups again, and experienced the same pain again. So my situation is whether or not to go to the flight doc about someth…

So I went to WPAFB for my FC1 physical earlier this summer. I did not do well on the depth perception tests. I passed everything else. Once I failed the OVT, they had me go through the other battery of depth tests, and again, I was spotty - getting things right but not consistently enough. I left there being told I was DQ'd. I started doing a lot of research on depth perception - mainly on the mil forums - and started doing eye exercises everyday. Last week I was on TDY at Maxwell. At the advise of some of the ROTC officers there, I went over to the base clinic and asked them to test me on Depth Perception. I explained my situation to the technician, who said that som…

Hi all, Back when I was going through the motions for the AF Academy, during my physical I had to get a waiver for a polyp in my sinuses. I went to a specialist, and without any grief he said it wouldn't be a problem at all, unless I started smoking a few packs a day. I don't have any problems with it, and am in super health. Soon I am going to be taking a physical for a AF Reserve tanker pilot slot... will this come up again and be a problem?

I just wanted to pass on some information so that if anyone ever has this happen to them they will have a road map. I was diagnosed back in August with 4th nerve palsy (vertical phoria) in my right eye. I was immediately DNIF'd. Got to visit Brooke's again and even the Chief Ophthalmologist at Willford Hall. Needless to say I didn't get great news from either. Brooke's told me the chances of fixing my eyes were pretty small but if the double vision that I got in the left gaze could be corrected without glasses then they would recommend the waiver. Willford Hall just kind of laughed and said I had three options. 1. surgery (didn't recommend it because it was very inv…

any one know where I can find the Air Force regs on uvietis and or iritis for pilot candidates?? thanks for all your help

I have a hypothetical question here :) So say I was having foot pain a couple months ago so I started taking my sister's old Oxycodone prescription for about a week. The recommended dose was 1 tablet and I began taking 2 tablets by the last few days and then stopped after that week. Would this disqualify me from ROTC and if I would be able to get into ROTC would it disqualify me from a pilot position? And if for some reason I didn't do ROTC and did OTS, would it disqualify for an OTS pilot slot?

What if you are correctable to 20/20 (within refraction limits), pass MEPS.. But then you goto your FC1 Physical, and under Cycloplegic tests, they see your refraction is more than +2. like +2.5, which is beyond limits. Is there some sort of discretion there? Reason is that my eye muscles are juiced up beyond belief, so good, that they make up for one of my eyes being an actual +2.5 in cycloplegic tests.

Currently AD and diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and considering going guard/reserve. Going through an MEB which I was told wouldn’t be an issue for me to “pass”. Would a Sleep Apnea diagnosis or a disability rating associated with it (if there is one) prevent me from going guard/reserve? Considering not taking continuation to 20 but don’t want to find myself not in AD and not be able to go guard/reserve.

Any docs perusing this board (or anyone experienced), a keg to you (I mean it) for any help you can provide. I'm getting out of AD for family reasons and have been hired at a non-flying reserve unit that needs rated folks. I’m also on the short list for two IMA positions so at the unit level the Reserves want me and my experience. I had absolutely counted on getting into the Reserves to continue my service, work towards retirement and still get to feel kind of cool. While on AD I had several bouts of kidney stones that ended up with an MEB and an ALC (C-2). I have been symptom free for over a year and as long as I take my medication (urocit-k) it looks like I ha…

Hey, Does anyone know if having excessive cupping of the optic disc is grounds for DQ or if it is possible to get a waiver (if necessary)? So far the pressure tests were within the limits but the cup to disc ratio was 0.4 and I think it is suppose to be below 0.3. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hey, I was just wondering if finasteride or minoxidil is banned in military aviation? I am going to apply into Air Force.

History -> I had PRK back in April of 2007, everything went well and I passed my FC1 in January of this year. My FC1 states "pending completion of MFS" as I expected it to, and I know that there will be add'l PRK testing done there since it had not been quite a year since surgery at the time of my flight physical. In anticipation of MFS (and since it has been 11 months since my FC1), I scheduled an eye exam with a local ophthalmologist who also happens to be a recently retired AF flight surgeon. I had the full exam done to include corneal topographies, etc.. Everything looked fantastic. His only comment was that my right eye seemed dry under the microscope (a commo…

While I was boxing recreationally, a blow to my right eye gave me, in additional to a swollen black eye, a blowout fracture in the orbital floor. I wasn't knocked out by the hit. I was lucky in that there was no muscle entrapment, and the double vision I got AFTER swelling (but not after the hit) went away three days later. My vision is still 20/20 in both eyes and the doctors found no damage to the eye itself. However, in order to decrease the chance of getting a sunken eye due to the size of the fracture, I'm going to be getting surgery to insert a medpor mesh material to seal up the fracture. My doctor told me he advises against scuba diving after such damage to the e…

I was flying today and as I did my 45 deg turn I plugged up my ears. I didn't realize until I landed and took off my headset that I could barely hear anything. I do have some type of head cold, not a bad one.. It's prob allergies. Anyway I managed to pop my ears back to normal, one tends to plug back up. Is there anything to do to prevent this.. any tricks? besides not flying. Also what are some tricks to popping your ears back to normal? Thanks guys.

Hello all, Bit of an oddball question but I'm kind of desperate for answers. I've searched far and wide for some kind of official USAF policy on hydroceles without any luck. Can anybody point me in the direction of the most recent, "official" reg or is that kind of thing not publicly available? From sources whose accuracy I can not be sure of, I have heard that a "small" right hydrocele is not disqualifying. When I went to MEPS over the summer, the doctor there thumbed through a HUGE book and said that a right hydrocele smaller than the testicle is NOT a DQ, larger IS. He determined mine was much smaller and not a DQ however, I was DQ'ed for an inguinial hernia t…

Hello everyone, So recently I was selected by a AF reserve unit as a candidate for their upcoming pilot board. After a few months of talking to a recruiter I took the MEPS physical. I was told I passed by my recruiter and the MEPS doctors, and that he would go ahead and start the process with getting my FC1 scheduled. About a month later my recruiter called me and told me that the AF surgeon generals office disqualified me from even taking the FC1 due to my hearing being out of H1 limits at the 6000hz frequency in my left ear. Besides that I have no medical issues and my vision is 20/40 in both eyes. I just can't believe that I would be denied from even taking the p…

Greetings, First off I know this isn't necessarily a flght question but this seems a good place to get the answer I'm looking for, so forgive me if I'm wasting time. I've been searching through numerous AFI's and AFPAM's about this issue, but I cannot seem to find a straightforward answer. I know that for a SMOD physical, normal color vision is a requirement. However, is it possible to get a waiver? Has anyone ever heard of it? The only waiver guide I can find says a waiver will not be granted for a flight physical. I'm highly interested in the 13SX field (Missile side to be exact) but I'm green weak and I cannot pass a PIP exam. Other than that I don't th…

This question is very premature because I haven't even talked to a recruiter yet, but I wanted to get your guys opinion on something. Ever since I was a kid I've had a problem where my face sweats more than normal. Now my knowledge (from the internet) of this is not much other than it is called hyperhidrosis. From what i can tell the Air Force will DQ you if you have this of the hands or feet, but not of the face. It's not that my face sweats excessively all the time just when working out, when it's hot and very humid, and sometimes when I'm nervous. If it is real hot and humid out I can start sweating just standing outside. What I was wondering is if this will more…

Hello, I am a first year medical student in the Air Force HPSP program. I'm interested in both Aerospace and Emergency med. I've always had problems focusing but it has never been a problem until now. I spoke with my advisor(an M.D.), and he seemed to be concerned that I may have ADD and recommended I get checked. I was wondering how this would affect my career in the Air Force if I decided to go in to Aerospace or Emergency Med and if this could affect promotions, etc? Could I even go into Aerospace Med if I were diagnosed? If it would cause any problems I do not plan on following up on this. (I'm passing but not doing as well as I could) However, I know that if I…

Hey guys, I hate to start a new thread but searched for a while and didnt find anything exactly like what I was looking for. Your insight would be greatly appreciated. I have an upcoming FC1 at Wright-Patt the first week of December. I believe I am right on the boarderline regarding my refraction error and am unsure which way it will go. That is my only issue. Other than that I should be completely fine during the FC1. My question to you is, since I am 26 and 1/2 years old and will be 27 in May 2013, I was wondering what options I have if I DQd because of my refraction error. I have not had PRK but would be willing to get it done ASAP after the FC1. I am a civ…

recently had my fc1a which went smoothly. got recent results back from my last pap and they came back abnormal graded low severity. i'm going into the doctors in a week to have further tests for HPV... assuming this is the case, how long do i have to wait for my flight physical to be considered for approval...(like do i have to have a certain # of clear paps before its submitted, or a certain amount of time?) :(

Question about allergies. I have seasonal allergies (ragweed,pollen etc.) but they are easily controlled bt OTC meds. I am not worried about that but when I was very little (I don't remember it, but was told by my mother), I had a mild skin reaction to penicillin/amoxicillin. I have been told my parents for my entire life that I am allegic to these, and have told all my doctors etc that I am. I am not sure if it has been actually tested and/or documented that I am allergic to these but either way. If I am allergic to these, is this disqualifying? Should I be worried? I was just hired by an F-16 Unit and am naturally, frantically going through anything that could go …