Multiple concussions and military records

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bluewombat6

Filing Flight Plan
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bluewombat6
Has anyone been able to pass or maintain a 1st class certificate with multiple concussions? I didn't see any mention from FAA on how multiple mild TBI effects their decision.

A little backstory for context: Before reaching adulthood, I successfully ping-ponged my brain 3 times (skateboarding and motocross). I enlisted in the Army, but had to get a waiver. No issues getting the waiver and no restrictions during my enlistment. I got 2 more concussions in service (airborne with high winds). Fast-forward to the present, I have completed a bachelor's and master's in engineering and science fields, so my cognitive skills are at least decent. I also don't beat my wife!

If there are no signs of lasting conditions from those concussions and they range between 6-15 years in the rearview mirror, is it possible that I can still be approved? All were mild TBI without any LOC, with the exception of one of them being "concussion with loss of consciousness of unspecified duration, subsequent encounter." That wording doesn't sound awesome, but the LOC was very little, if any at all in reality.


As for the medical records, any past military members been able to successfully get all of their records? I have a decent file that includes most medical stuff but is pretty light on detail. It would be great to have stuff from MEPS and my evaluation for my waiver.
 
There doesn't seem to be much in here on concussions/tbi. People say that there are pilots that got their medical certificate back after a tbi, but I can't find any pilot statements on the internet where they themselves verified "yes, I had a tbi and fought and got my medical certificate back and am flying!"
 
Do you think pilots want to advertise this? Sigh.
It's common. There are many successes and some failures....
 
bbchien said:
Do you think pilots want to advertise this? Sigh.
It's common. There are many successes and some failures....
Click to expand...
I believe there are pilots that have had a mild tbi with no bleeding, seizures, didn't pass out for more than a minute etc that got their medical certificate back. I still don't believe that there have been any pilots that had a moderate tbi with bleeding that have gotten their medical certificate back. And that is proof that it's not worth trying. Convince me that I'm wrong.
 
Well I have a guy with severe, in his mid 30s. i'm not going to publish the details...spun in his wing chute from 200 AGL and was down for 2.5 years. # neurocogs. He's a net jets captain currently, and has been back on dut for about 10 years.....I'm sure not going to publish his details....so just fill the squares, buddy.

Don't fill thes squares-->you take the bus.
 
Update:

It's been a long time since I posted last but I want to give some feedback to anyone in a similar situation.

I started the process in September 2025 with a consultation with my local AME. He suggested I get a "current, detailed Clinical Progress Note" from a board-certified neurologist to preemptively send with my application. About a month later, I completed the neurology appointment. The neurologist essentially summarized my history, did a quick neurocognitive test (remember these words, etc), and gave his opinion. I scheduled my 1st class exam and was deferred as expected.

I sent my progress note and ER visits to my RFS and had my 1st class issued in 1-2 months from application. It would have been quicker but my AME office forgot to send my color vision test results, so that correspondence had to go through the mail.

It seems extremely quick compared to many horror stories I've read of deferrals.

In short, get a good consult before and provide great documentation and hopefully you can get a short turnaround like I did!

Good luck!
 
bluewombat6 said:
Update:

It's been a long time since I posted last but I want to give some feedback to anyone in a similar situation.

I started the process in September 2025 with a consultation with my local AME. He suggested I get a "current, detailed Clinical Progress Note" from a board-certified neurologist to preemptively send with my application. About a month later, I completed the neurology appointment. The neurologist essentially summarized my history, did a quick neurocognitive test (remember these words, etc), and gave his opinion. I scheduled my 1st class exam and was deferred as expected.

I sent my progress note and ER visits to my RFS and had my 1st class issued in 1-2 months from application. It would have been quicker but my AME office forgot to send my color vision test results, so that correspondence had to go through the mail.

It seems extremely quick compared to many horror stories I've read of deferrals.

In short, get a good consult before and provide great documentation and hopefully you can get a short turnaround like I did!

Good luck!
Click to expand...
I wish mine had been mild. Unfortunately a bleed for a few minutes puts it in the moderate category and I'm convinced that the chances of getting approved by the faa are slim to none. So my career is over. Thanks for the info. Cheers.
 
Jad said:
I wish mine had been mild. Unfortunately a bleed for a few minutes puts it in the moderate category and I'm convinced that the chances of getting approved by the faa are slim to none. So my career is over. Thanks for the info. Cheers.
Click to expand...

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
 
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