Can you get an Army medical waiver if you had Legg-Perthes disease as a child?

Answer 1

It's possible. Perthes is considered a medical disqualifier according to: http://www.military.com/Recruiting/Content/0,13898,rec_step07_DQ_medical,,00.html

Here's what they say:

Lower extremities

The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are:

a. Limitation of motion. An individual will be considered unacceptable if the joint ranges of motion are less that the measurements listed below.

(1) Hip (due to disease, injury):

(a) Flexion to 90 degrees.

(b) No demonstrable flexion contracture.

(c) Extension to 10 degrees (beyond 0 degrees).

(d) Abduction to 45 degrees.

(e) Rotation of 60 degrees (internal and external combined).

(2) Knee (due to disease, injury):

(a) Full extension compared with contralateral.

(b) Flexion to 90 degrees.

(3) Ankle (due to disease, injury):

(a) Dorsiflexion to 10 degrees.

(b) Planter flexion to 30 degrees.

(4) Subtalar (due to disease or injury): eversion and inversion (total to 5 degrees).

b. Foot and ankle.

(1) Absences of one or more small toes if function of the foot is poor or running or jumping is prevented; absence of a foot or any portion thereof except for toes.

(2) Absence of great toe(s); loss of dorsal/plantar flexion if function of the foot is impaired.

(3) Deformities of the toes, either acquired or congenital, including polydactyly, that prevent wearing military footwear or impair walking, marching, running, or jumping. This includes hallux valgus.

(4) Clubfoot or Pes Cavus, if stiffness or deformity prevents foot function or wearing military footwear.

(5) Symptomatic pes planus, acquired or congenital or pronounced cases, with absence of subtalar motion.

(6) Ingrown toenails, if severe.

(7) Planter fascitis, persistent.

(8) Neuroma, confirmed condition and refractory to medical treatment or will impair function of the foot.

c. Leg, knee, thigh, and hip.

(1) Loose or foreign bodies within the knee joint.

(2) Physical findings of an unstable or internally deranged joint. History of uncorrected anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injury.

(3) Surgical correction of any knee ligaments if symptomatic or unstable.

(4) History of congenital dislocation of the hip, osteochondritis of the hip (Legg-Perthes disease), or slipped femoral epiphysis of the hip.

(5) Hip dislocation within 2 years before examination.

(6) Osteochondritis of the tibial tuberosity (Osgood-Schlatter disease), if symptomatic.

d. General.

(1) Deformities, disease or chronic pain of one or both lower extremities that have interfered with function to such a degree as to prevent the individual from following a physically active vocation in civilian life or that would interfere with walking, running, or weight bearing, or the satisfactory completion of prescribed training or military duty.

(2) Shortening of a lower extremity resulting in a noticeable limp or scoliosis.