Does epilepsy disqualify you from the military?
People with epilepsy are also prohibited from joining the armed forces, though they may work in certain civilian military positions. Employment issues are responsible for 85% of the cost of epilepsy on society. In the United States, the median income for people with epilepsy is 93% that of all people.
Seizure disorders (except febrile convulsions in childhood) and recurrent or severe headaches may be disqualifying and waivable only to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The Social Security Administration considers epilepsy to be a qualifying condition for disability benefits. This means that if you've been diagnosed with epilepsy and are unable to work for an extended period of time, you have a high chance of being granted benefits.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations does not have a policy restricting the employment of people with epilepsy or a medical history of seizures. Each applicant's fitness for duty is reviewed on an individual basis by medical staff as required by Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Equipment Operation – Depending on how well your epilepsy is controlled, you may not be able to operate a vehicle or other heavy equipment. Factory work or other jobs that require regular use of heavy equipment aren't likely to be a good fit for people with epilepsy, especially as your condition may change over time.
Medical conditions, criminal history, age, physical fitness, and drug abuse can all disqualify you from joining the Army. Other disqualifying factors include failing to meet minimum educational requirements, having a dishonorable discharge from the military, or having a record of mental illness.
- Service Animal Trainer. Getting a job as an animal trainer is one of the ideal jobs available for epilepsy patients. ...
- Data Entry. Data entry is suitable for epilepsy patients because it allows them to work at their own pace. ...
- Librarian. ...
- Mental Health Counselor. ...
- Artist. ...
- Conclusion.
Anyone who has a history of a convulsive disorder is barred. The only exception is an applicant with reported seizures that were related to a febrile illness that occurred before the age of five. These applicants may be acceptable if their electroencephalogram (EEG) is normal.
Treatment with medicines or sometimes surgery can control seizures for most people with epilepsy. Some people require lifelong treatment. For others, seizures eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.
Tonic: Muscles in the body become stiff. Atonic: Muscles in the body relax. Myoclonic: Short jerking in parts of the body. Clonic: Periods of shaking or jerking parts on the body.
How much is SSI for epilepsy?
How much is a disability check for epilepsy? The average Social Security disability benefit for someone with epilepsy or a similar neurocognitive condition is $1,377.36 per month. The maximum possible disability payment is about $3,600 per month for SSDI and $914 per month for SSI in 2023.
The incidence of any type of seizure increases substantially over the age of 60, commonly due to other neurological conditions such as dementia or stroke.
There are no federal laws barring people with epilepsy from working as a nurse, physician, phlebotomist or other medical-related position. In fact, federal civil rights law, and many state laws, may protect your right to work in the medical profession.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities, including epilepsy.
Epilepsy is sometimes described as a hidden disability because it is not usually obvious that someone has the condition unless they have a seizure.
Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body's metabolism. Some parents have reported that allergic reactions to certain foods (e.g. white flour) also seem to trigger seizures in their children.
It is not always necessary to discuss epilepsy with a potential employer. Whether you do or not is up to you. If you have excellent seizure control and the employer does not ask any health-related questions, there's no reason to start talking about epilepsy unless you want to.
Diphenhydramine and other antihistamines used for treating allergies can increase seizure susceptibility, with the increased risk extending beyond the course of treatment. Pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, and dextromethorphan are all used to alleviate cold symptoms, particularly congestion.
Recruiters generally tell applicants that they must be off medication for a considerable length of time — by far the most important measure to take — and show that they are able to function properly while off medication prior to starting the enlistment process and to be considered for a waiver.
This would be a typical situation where a recruit could get waiver approval for the use of these drugs. The new system is called the Prescription Medication Reporting System (PMRS) and is used to pull seven years of prescription histories for all civilian recruits going to MEPS.
What makes you unfit for military service?
Any medical condition (or combination of conditions) that substantially impairs your ability to perform the duties required by your rank and your military occupation can make you unfit for duty.
From the fear of seizures and nasty falls to recurring anxiety and stress, living with epilepsy can be downright overwhelming at times. However, there are ways to manage, diminish and even prevent some of the effects epilepsy has on your day-to-day activities – without feeling as though you're missing out.
Danny Glover: The Academy Award-winning actor struggled with epilepsy and seizures as a child. Like many people with epilepsy, he outgrew the disorder. Glover attributes part of his success to being able to recognize the warning signs of seizures after his first one at the age of 15.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that causes an individual to experience recurrent seizures. It is the most common neurological disorder, affecting about 4% of Australians. Epilepsy may be a life-long condition, but seizures can often be controlled using medication.
Epilepsy affects over 50 million people across the world. It ranks fifth among all neurological causes for disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
If you have a disability, you may qualify for competitive and noncompetitive federal employment. Disabled individuals may qualify for Army Civilian Service based on a special appointing authority. Applicants must be able to perform the essential duties of the job with reasonable accommodation.
Federal regulations, in effect, bar anyone with a history of epilepsy, who have been diagnosed with epilepsy or who have experienced a "disturbance of consciousness without a satisfactory medical explanation of the cause," from obtaining any type of pilot's license.
Most children with epilepsy live a normal life. Certain types of childhood epilepsy go away or improve with age, usually in the late teens or 20s. If your child does not have seizures for a few years, the provider may stop medicines. For many children, epilepsy is a lifelong condition.
Long-term consequences of status epilepticus can include permanent injury or excessive death of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and permanent alteration of the neuronal networks in the brain. The brain damage can have long-term effects on behavior, can impair ability to learn and can cause intellectual disability.
If seizures can't be stopped or repeated seizures occur one right after another, permanent injury or death can occur. People with epilepsy can also die from problems that occur during or after a seizure, such as inhaling vomit.
Is epilepsy a physical or mental disability?
Epilepsy is not a mental illness. In fact, the vast majority of people living with epilepsy have no cognitive or psychological problem. For the most part, psychological issues in epilepsy are limited to people with severe and uncontrolled epilepsy.
What is Unfit for Duty? Unfit for Duty means that the service member is unable to perform the duties of their office, grade, or rank because of a medical condition. For DoD Disability, all conditions must make the service member Unfit for Duty in order to qualify.
There are many specific medical conditions that may disqualify you from joining the U.S. Military. These include conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, heart issues, Asperger's, and PTSD.
Veterans with a service-related disability and an "other than dishonorable" discharge can qualify for a monthly tax-free VA Disability Compensation benefit ranging from $133 to over $3,400 every month.
Each branch of the military has age limits to enlist in active duty: Air Force: 17 - 39. Army: 17 - 35. Coast Guard: 17 - 31.
Any type of epileptic seizure could potentially affect your memory, either during, or after, the seizure. If you have lots of seizures, particularly in a short space of time, your memory can be disrupted for a longer period of time.
Active duty military personnel have a right to informed consent before accepting treatment, as well as a right to refuse treatment if they disagree with such.
Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition which requires: Overnight hospitalization (including prenatal care), including the period of incapacity or subsequent treatment in connection with the overnight care.
Medical discharges take place when a service member becomes ill or is injured during their military service and are now unable to perform the duties required of a productive member of the military. These separations are based on a medical evaluation.
