Can Someone With Epilepsy Join The Army?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can someone with epilepsy join the army? According to the Department of Defense,

the military discriminates against people with epilepsy

because it wants military people to be available for worldwide service at any time and with few limitations.

Can you get into the Army with epilepsy?

Epilepsy (345) occurring beyond the sixth birthday, unless the applicant has been free of seizures for a period of five years while taking no medication for seizure control, and has a normal electroencephalogram (EEG) is disqualifying.

Can you go to war if you have epilepsy?

For example, if you currently have epilepsy,

you would not be able to join the Armed Forces

, but if you had epilepsy as a child (when you were under five years old) or had a single seizure more than 10 years ago, you may be able to join.

Can someone with epilepsy join the Navy?


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.

Can you join the Army with epilepsy UK?

You would NOT be able to join the Armed Forces if: You have been diagnosed with epilepsy and you have had more than one seizure since the age of 6 years or. You have had a single seizure in the last 5 years.

What jobs can epileptics not do?

  • jobs that involve driving.
  • working at heights, near open water or fire.
  • working with unguarded machinery.

Can epilepsy go away?

Treatment with medications or sometimes surgery can control seizures for the majority of people with epilepsy. Some people require lifelong treatment to control seizures, but

for others, the seizures eventually go away

. Some children with epilepsy may outgrow the condition with age.

What jobs can epileptics do?

  • 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.

Can someone with epilepsy join the police?


There are no federal laws barring people with epilepsy from working as a firefighter, police officer, correctional officer or in other law enforcement officer (LEO) jobs

. In fact, federal civil rights law, and many state laws, may protect your right to work in these professions.

Does epilepsy get worse with age?


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.

What medical conditions will get you kicked out of the military?

  • Food Allergies. If you have a history of food allergies, you might be disqualified from joining the military. …
  • Celiac Disease. …
  • Contact dermatitis. …
  • Asthma. …
  • Braces or dental ailments. …
  • Motion sickness. …
  • Acne. …
  • Too tall.

What disqualifies you from joining the military?

To enlist, you must be qualified under current federal laws and regulations or have an appropriate waiver. There are

age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards

that can exclude you from joining the military.

What medical conditions exclude you from the military?

  • Abdominal Organs and Gastrointestinal System.
  • Blood and BloodForming Tissue Diseases.
  • Body Build Deficiency.
  • Advanced Dental Diseases.
  • Ears and Hearing Loss.
  • Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders.
  • Loss of Function in Upper Extremities.
  • Loss of Function in Lower Extremities.

Which famous person has epilepsy?


Vincent van Gogh

suffered from seizures doctors believed were cause by temporal lobe epilepsy. Composer George Gershwin was diagnosed with epilepsy. Actress Margaux Hemingway had from epilepsy from the age of seven. Korn front man Jonathan Davis believes his epilepsy was induced by years of drug use.

Does epilepsy count as a disability?


Epilepsy is considered a disability

and it has a listing in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book. For epilepsy to qualify for disability benefits, it must meet the criteria of the Blue Book listing. There are different listings for epilepsy in the Blue Book.

What disqualifies you from joining the Army UK?

Shoulder problems resulting in functional limitations or restrictions of movement. Loss of a limb. Clubfoot (including past surgery). Chronic joint diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

Can I donate blood with epilepsy?

Throughout the world

people who have epilepsy and seizures are prohibited from donating blood

. These restrictions are based on the assumption that they are prone to adverse donor reactions, specifically, syncope and convulsions.

What is a good career for someone with epilepsy?

People with epilepsy are successfully employed in a variety of jobs that might be considered high-risk:

police officer, firefighter, welder, butcher, construction worker

, etc. Epilepsy is a highly variable disorder and it is difficult to generalize about safety issues.

Do seizures damage your brain?


Most types of seizures do not cause damage to the brain

. However, having a prolonged, uncontrolled seizure can cause harm. Because of this, treat any seizure lasting over 5 minutes as a medical emergency.

What are 3 causes of epilepsy?

  • a stroke.
  • a brain tumour.
  • a severe head injury.
  • drug abuse or alcohol misuse.
  • a brain infection.
  • a lack of oxygen during birth.

Can you fly a plane if you have epilepsy?

While

most people with seizures can travel safely by airplanes

, guidelines of the Aerospace Medical Association do recommend that people with uncontrolled seizures not travel by commercial airliner. An airline may ask for a letter from your doctor that you are okay to fly.

Is epilepsy a mental illness?


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.

Should I tell my boss I have epilepsy?


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.

Do you have to declare epilepsy to employer?


If your epilepsy could cause a health or safety risk to you or anybody else, you must tell your employer about it

. This is the law.

Can epilepsy be drafted?

According to the Department of Defense,

the military discriminates against people with epilepsy

because it wants military people to be available for worldwide service at any time and with few limitations.

Can you join the FBI with epilepsy?


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.

Can I lose my job due to epilepsy?


Employers cannot legally refuse to give you a job just because you have epilepsy

. However, they need to consider your epilepsy, and what the job involves, to ensure your safety and that of other employees.

Can you be a firefighter with epilepsy UK?


Traditionally, diabetes, asthma and epilepsy sufferers have been excluded from firefighting and police work

, which can place intense physical demands on employees.

What foods should epileptics avoid?

What gender is most affected by epilepsy?

Worldwide,

men had a higher incidence of epilepsy compared with women

(10). Men were likely to be vulnerable to common risk factors such as brain damage (11).

Is there a cure for epilepsy 2020?

But unlike with other brain-related conditions, about two dozen medications can successfully treat many cases of epilepsy. Although

there is no cure

, these anti-seizure drugs turn the disease into a chronic, but well-managed condition for many to the point where it barely interferes with life.

Does flat feet exclude you from the military?

Why does flat feet disqualify you from the military?

You can’t have flat feet


If someone has “symptomatic” flat feet, which indicates that the condition causes the person chronic physical pain

, then he or she cannot serve.

What tattoos disqualify you from the army?

Army Tattoo Policy

It prohibits

any tattoos on the head, face, neck, wrists, hands, or above the t-shirt collar

. Essentially, any visible body tattoos are prohibited. The only exception is one ring tattoo per hand where a regular ring would lie.

Can I join the Army with ADHD?

Can I join if I have ADHD?

Yes. It will only prevent you from joining the Army if you’ve been treated with ADD/ADHD medication within the last year, or if you display obvious signs of the condition

.

Can you be on medication in the military?


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.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.