Had surgery to correct a hole in my eardrum. I have scar tissue but hearing is fine. Will this disqualify me from joining.
You should be good to go as long as it has been more than 180 days since surgery and you meet the hearing threshold requirements.
Here is the regulation for the Army. AR 40-501, Chapter 2-6, 7
2–6. Ears
The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are:
a. External ear. Atresia or severe microtia (744), acquired stenosis (380.5), severe chronic or acute otitis externa (380.2), or severe traumatic deformity (738.7).
b. Mastoids. Mastoiditis (383), residual of mastoid operation with fistula (383.81), or marked external deformity that prevents or interferes with wearing a protective mask or helmet (383.3).
c. Meniere’s Syndrome. Or other diseases of the vestibular system (386).
d. Middle and inner ear. Acute or chronic otitis media (382), cholesteatoma (385.3), or history of any inner (P20) or middle (P19) ear surgery excluding myringotomy or successful tympanoplasty.
e. Tympanic membrane. Any perforation of the tympanic membrane (384), or surgery to correct perforation within 120 days of examination (P19).
2–7. Hearing
The cause for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction is a hearing threshold level greater than that described in paragraph c below.
a. Audiometers, calibrated to standards of the International Standards Organization (ISO 1964) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI 1996), will be used to test the hearing of all applicants.
b. All audiometric tracings or audiometric readings recorded on reports of medical examination or other medical records will be clearly identified.
c. Acceptable audiometric hearing levels (both ears) are:
(1) Pure tone at 500, 1000, and 2000 cycles per second of not more than 30 decibels (dB) on the average (each ear), with no individual level greater than 35dB at these frequencies.
(2) Pure tone level not more than 45 dB at 3000 cycles per second each ear, and 55 dB at 4000 cycles per second each ear.
Here is the regulation for the Army. AR 40-501, Chapter 2-6, 7
2–6. Ears
The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are:
a. External ear. Atresia or severe microtia (744), acquired stenosis (380.5), severe chronic or acute otitis externa (380.2), or severe traumatic deformity (738.7).
b. Mastoids. Mastoiditis (383), residual of mastoid operation with fistula (383.81), or marked external deformity that prevents or interferes with wearing a protective mask or helmet (383.3).
c. Meniere’s Syndrome. Or other diseases of the vestibular system (386).
d. Middle and inner ear. Acute or chronic otitis media (382), cholesteatoma (385.3), or history of any inner (P20) or middle (P19) ear surgery excluding myringotomy or successful tympanoplasty.
e. Tympanic membrane. Any perforation of the tympanic membrane (384), or surgery to correct perforation within 120 days of examination (P19).
2–7. Hearing
The cause for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction is a hearing threshold level greater than that described in paragraph c below.
a. Audiometers, calibrated to standards of the International Standards Organization (ISO 1964) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI 1996), will be used to test the hearing of all applicants.
b. All audiometric tracings or audiometric readings recorded on reports of medical examination or other medical records will be clearly identified.
c. Acceptable audiometric hearing levels (both ears) are:
(1) Pure tone at 500, 1000, and 2000 cycles per second of not more than 30 decibels (dB) on the average (each ear), with no individual level greater than 35dB at these frequencies.
(2) Pure tone level not more than 45 dB at 3000 cycles per second each ear, and 55 dB at 4000 cycles per second each ear.
The regulation is the regulation. Have you run this by a recruiter? Them MEPS physician typically makes the final decision.
What branch a re you wanting to join? The rules vary by branch.