medical exam - braces

Memphis9489
Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:55:25 +0000

I have identical twins who are applying to the Naval Academy. They have completed everything and are now just awaiting their nomination status and, hopefully an appointment.

Both of them have braces on their teeth.

I understand you cannot be admitted with the braces still on, but we didn’t think that would be a problem since they are both scheduled to get them off in June 2009. We even brought in a letter from their orthodontist stating that the braces are going to be removed when we is when they went in for the physical.

One of my sons got a disqualification medical code for “orthodontic appliances” (code D04.00) and the other got a remedial code (R252.80) with follow-up paperwork regarding the braces. They provided a form to be filled out by the orthodontist.

I don’t understand why a the same, common condition is handled so differently; one with a complete disqualification, the other with remedial follow-up.

Surely, it is very common for a candidate to have braces. Since they are coming off well before admission, I do not understand why they are being treated so differently.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN