Medical clearance denied! Now what?

[Linda]

I just got word that my medical screening has been denied. I don't know exactly why yet; my husband hasn't picked up the actual papers. I had to fill out the EFMP form because I have a slight mental health issue...I get anxiety attacks occasionally and have medication for that, plus an anti-depressant to help calm me down during his crazy PSC process. Could that be why? I was told that you had to be very unstable to be denied. Like, multiple hospitalizations, suicide attempts, etc. My problem is nowhere near that severe. "As long as you're stable on your meds, you'll be fine, and they have mental health folks at Kadena" is exactly what the military doctor said during our screening meeting. The only other things I have are migraines (again, not severe, and I get only a few a year) and I had an abnormal pap smear, which the gyno is monitoring. Sorry if this is TMI....I am freaking out at work trying to think of how they could justify denying me.

This is so frustrating! Is that it? You're denied and you just have to stay home? Is there an appeal process, or can I do something to make them approve me? I wonder if my doctor botched the paperwork. She was not happy that she had to fill it out, and some of the things she wrote were not entirely accurate I think. She didn't even fill it out completely, and the EFMP person on base had to fill in some stuff. Ugh!

Any words of encouragement, or similar situations?

[Renee]

The tubes shouldn't be an issue. My daughter is on her 5th set and there is an ENT here. Did you get the depression meds from your regular doctor or a Psychiatrist? That can make a difference and if it's been less than 5 years it can be an issue. It seems for some reason the AF spouses have more difficulty with this than the other branches. Ask them if you can get on EFMP once you get here.

[Robin]

we are army not air force it was effexor and my reg. doc gave it to me one time over a yr ago and there is 2 orders for wellbutrin to help stop smoking and all my recordes say its for non smoking
Are you in kadena now ......... how long have you been there.
My husband wants me to get ahold of the EFMP borad over there, our file go's to japan on tue. our orders say oct10 2009 only cause EFMP is taking there sweet time and they wont change our date until they come back with concurrent travle and I was told the later the report date the longer they take to get it back so he thought if I called them.

[Renee]

My hubby is a marine, he's stationed on Futenma, but we live on Foster. Sorry, I thought you were AF because you said Kadena. when you filled out all the paperwork for your medical clearance were you specific about the reasons and times. We were lucky because we had a really good overseas screener who knew all the right things to put on there and the docs for my kids who have medical conditions knew exactly how to word it. There is only one EFMP board. That's in DC or quantico, somewhere like that. The local EFMP offices don't make those decisions if you can come or not.

[Dawn Hudson]

We knew after a few days. And I stated that it was a quick turn around for them to mail it out and get it back and they said it doesn't get mailed out. They just review it and that was it. We are AF.

[Renee]

We knew after about 5 days if we were cleared. all we got was a phone call from the overseas screener at our hospital that we were cleared and our paperwork was ready to be picked up.

[Robin]

I was told and given papers saying if you have had gi within the last 3 yrs you will be an automatic denial

[Jennaleach]

So im so stressed with this whole paperwork crap, everytime we turn something in its such a process well i did my medical screening here in NY today at my civilian dr. cause there is no military base around. (my husband is in oki already hes been there for 4 months and they just did the tour change to accompianed. ) but my dr. had nothing to put on the paper really cause iv never had any medical problems, so all he put where the blood work and shots iv recieved. Are there any vaccinations required to go to Japan? smae thing with my dentist, im a class 1 so i have no issues there either....do u think there will be any problems???

[shereen]

hello,
i've been reading all your posts, and discovered some good information. We wer stationed in Kadena almost 2 years ago, from there we're here in Incirlik AB, Turkey. My husband found out a few months ago that we got Kadena again. We started the outprocessing. However my medical clearance was denied by Kadena. Sincwe being here in Incirlik, I have self admitted myself to Mental Health due to mild depression. I 've been on therapy for a liitle over a year and then put on remission status. Also I 've been on antidepressants, the lowest does given, for over a year with no problems at all.
The reason for denial was that they did not have the facility to take care of me!!!! WHAT!!!! I've been there. There's Camp lester and life skills by gate 1! Not to mention that Incirlik is a VERY small base, yet they have the facility and manpower to treat me! They completely bypassed the "patient is on remission and no longer needs mental health treatment." statement and denied me. So we appealed it. It has been 3 weeks since we sent the appeal, and just found out yesterday, that MAJCOM, PACAF has denied me! This time, its because Kadena does not have the man power to treat me. I DO NOT NEED TO BE TREATED ANYMORE!!! Why can't they get that? My meds have been prescribed by my PCM, not my therapist, no mental health treatment needed anymore, so what's the problem?
Our DEROS is Dec. 2009. I need advice from anyone who can shed some light on how we can get this turned around, or what steps to take to get a re-review. Has anyone requested to de-flag their sponspor's records? If so what is the process?
I'm so glad to have found this site. It helps to know that there are others who understand our sitiuation.
I appreciate any help and advice. Thanks in advance~~~Shereen

[Renee]

The problem is that your situation is less than 5 years old. Once you have surpassed the 5 years of no treatment, then it isn't an issue. When they say they have no facility, I think what it is is that there is no place to treat you if you have a nervous breakdown. I don't know if they have a mental health ward at the hospital. I don't know what you mean by de-flag your sponsor's records. Have your PCM write a statement on your status.

[Joanne]

Renee is right...the problem is less than 5 years ago. Even if it was 4 1/2 yrs ago it would still cause you issues in the process. In all likelyhood this decision won't be overturned. I'm sorry! They're really strict on mental health issues for all overseas bases. Very few will take anyone with a history less than 5 yrs old sadly. I do know that if Kadena doesn't take you then in theory your husband won't be going either (at least that's how the AF works) and will be restationed either somewhere in PACAF or in the CONUS. Either that or he can choose to go over unaccompanied and you can go without command sponsership but I wouldn't recomend that course of action.

[Kris A]

All of this has been a great insight to me. I suffer from anxiety which leads to me getting depressed. I was treated with behavior therapy before I had my son last September. I decided I didn't like my therapist and quit going. I didn't have a problem getting cleared but then I refused meds. I don't think I will ever let myself get on meds after reading about all of this. I am so outraged by all of your stories. I can't believe they don't have the manpower out here to treat you.