Answering Medical History Questions

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Nurses Naval Hospital Jacksonville
Cmdr. Julie Conrardy, perioperative nurse program director (Navy East Coast) and senior nurse for surgical services at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, discusses operating room procedures with Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jacob Torres, for an upcoming knee surgery. (Jacob Sippel/Naval Hospital Jacksonville)

If you decide to start the application process, your recruiter will give you a list of questions. These questions will be asked again at MEPS. They are largely yes/no questions. Your recruiter will review your answers, then they may ask you for official proof that your conditions are no longer present or serious.

Have you ever had or do you now have the following (yes/no):

  1. Asthma, wheezing or inhaler use
  2. Dislocated joint, including knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle or other joint
  3. Epilepsy, fits, seizures or convulsions
  4. Sleepwalking
  5. Recurrent neck or back pain
  6. Rheumatic fever
  7. Foot pain
  8. A swollen, painful or dislocated joint or fluid in a joint (knee, shoulder, wrist, elbow, etc.)
  9. Double vision
  10. Periods of unconsciousness
  11. Frequent or severe headaches causing loss of time from work or school or taking medication to prevent frequent or severe headaches
  12. Wear contact lenses (If so, bring your contact lens kit and solution so you can remove your contact when we test your vision at the MEPS; also, if you have a pair of eyeglasses, bring them with you no matter how old they are.)
  13. Fainting spells or passing out
  14. Head injury, including skull fracture, resulting in concussion, loss of consciousness, headaches, etc.
  15. Back surgery
  16. Seen a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, counselor or other professional for any reason (inpatient or outpatient), including counseling or treatment for school, adjustment, family, marriage or any other problem, such as depression or treatment for alcohol, drug or substance abuse
  17. Any of the following skin diseases:
    -- Eczema
    -- Psoriasis
    -- Atopic dermatitis
  18. Irregular heartbeat, including abnormally rapid or slow heart rates
  19. Allergic to bee, wasp or other insect stings (itching/swelling all over and/or get short of breath)
  20. Heart murmur, valve problem or mitral valve prolapse
  21. Allergic to wool
  22. Heart surgery
  23. Been rejected for military service (temporary or permanent) for medical or other reasons
  24. Any other heart problems
  25. High blood pressure
  26. Discharged from military service for medical reasons
  27. Ulcer (stomach, duodenum or other part of intestine)
  28. Received disability compensation for an injury or other medical condition
  29. Hepatitis (liver infection or inflammation)
  30. Intestinal obstruction (locked bowels) or any other chronic or recurrent intestinal problem, including small intestine or colon problems, such as Crohn's disease or colitis
  31. Detached retina or surgery for a detached retina
  32. Surgery to remove a portion of the intestine (other than the appendix)
  33. Any other eye condition, injury or surgery
  34. Are you over 40? (If so, call the MEPS for information on special requirements for over-40 physicals)
  35. Gall bladder trouble or gallstones
  36. Jaundice
  37. Missing a kidney
  38. Allergy to common food (milk, bread, eggs, meat, fish or other common food)
  39. (Females only) Abnormal PAP smear or gynecological problem
  40. (Males only) Missing a testicle, testicular implant or undescended testicle
  41. Broken bone requiring surgery to repair (with or without pins, plates, screws or other metal fixation devices used in repair)
  42. Ruptured or bulging disk in your back or surgery for a ruptured or bulging disk
  43. Thyroid condition or take medication for your thyroid
  44. Limitation of motion of any joint, including knee, shoulder, wrist, elbow, hip or other joint
  45. Drug or alcohol rehab
  46. Kidney, urinary tract or bladder problems, surgery, stones or other urinary tract problems
  47. Sugar, protein or blood in urine
  48. Surgery on a bone or joint (knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, etc.), including arthroscopy with normal findings
  49. Taking any medications
  50. Pain or swelling at the site of an old fracture
  51. Perforated ear drum or tubes in ear drum(s)
  52. Anemia
  53. Ear surgery to include mastoidectomy or repair of perforated eardrum, hearing loss or need/use a hearing aid
  54. Night blindness
  55. Arthritis
  56. Absence or disturbance of the sense of smell
  57. Absence or removal of the spleen, or rupture or tear of the spleen without removal
  58. Anorexia or other eating disorder
  59. Cracked bone or fracture(s)
  60. Bursitis
  61. Braces (If you wear or are planning on obtaining braces for your teeth, have the orthodontist submit a letter stating that braces will be removed before active-duty date; release form and sample format can be found in the Recruiter's Medical Guide.)
  62. Loss of finger, toe or part thereof
  63. Loss of the ability to flex fully (bend) or extend fully a finger, toe or other joint
  64. Shoulder, knee or elbow problem (out of place)
  65. Locking of the knee or other joint
  66. Giving way of knee or other joint
  67. Cataracts or surgery for cataracts
  68. Eye surgery, including radial keratotomy, lens implant or other eye surgery to improve your vision
  69. Collapsed lung or other lung condition
  70. Bed-wetting since age 12
  71. Evaluation, treatment or hospitalization for alcohol abuse, dependence or addiction
  72. Taken medication, drugs or any substance to improve attention, behavior or physical performance
  73. Do you smoke? If yes, type: Cigarettes -- cigars -- smokeless tobacco.
    How many per day?
  74. Evaluation, treatment or hospitalization for substance use, abuse, addiction or dependence (including illegal drugs, prescription medications or other substances)
  75. Any illnesses, surgery or hospitalization not listed above

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