Court Opinion

ID: 2819194
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-22 16:02:54.203541+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:08.497428
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                    OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                             No. 08-573V
                                         Filed: June 26, 2015
                                         (Not to be published)

*************************
                                   *
TIMOTHY T. BOKMULLER and           *
DEBORAH L. BOKMULLER,              *
as parents of BTB, a minor,        *
                                   *
                      Petitioners, *                            Petitioners’ Motion for a Ruling on the
                                   *                            Record; Insufficient Proof of Causation;
               v.                  *                            Vaccine Act Entitlement; Denial Without
                                   *                            Hearing
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND            *
HUMAN SERVICES                     *
                                   *
                      Respondent.  *
                                   *
*************************

John McHugh, New York, NY, for Petitioners.
Ann Martin, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

                                                   DECISION

HASTINGS, Special Master

        This is an action seeking an award under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program (“Program”)1 on account of an injury to the Petitioners’ son, BTB. For the reasons
stated below, I conclude that the Petitioners are not entitled to such an award.

                                                          I

                             THE APPLICABLE STATUTORY SCHEME

        Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (“Program”), compensation
awards are made to individuals who have suffered injuries after receiving certain vaccines.
There are two separate means of establishing entitlement to compensation. First, if an injury
specified in the “Vaccine Injury Table” (“Table”), originally established by statute at § 300aa-
14(a) and later modified, occurred within the applicable time period after vaccination, as
prescribed in the Table, then the injury may be presumed to qualify for compensation. §§ 300aa-

1
 The applicable statutory provisions governing the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program are found in
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-10 et seq. (2006). Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “U.S.C.” references will be to 42 U.S.C.
(2006).
                                                          1
13(a)(1), -11(c)(1)(C)(i), -14(a). If a person qualifies under this presumption, he or she is said to
have suffered a “Table Injury.”

        Alternatively, if no Table Injury can be shown, the petitioner may gain an award by
instead showing that the vaccine recipient’s injury was actually caused by the vaccination in
question. §§ 300aa-13(a)(1), -11(c)(1)(C)(ii).

        Furthermore, “the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program . . . allows certain
petitioners to be compensated upon showing, among other things, that a person ‘sustained, or had
significantly aggravated’ a vaccine-related ‘illness, disability, injury, or condition.’” W.C. v.
HHS, 704 F.3d 1352, 1355-56 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (emphasis added) (quoting § 300aa-11(c)(1)(C)).
In Whitecotton v. HHS, 81 F.3d 1099, 1103 (Fed. Cir. 1996), the United States Court of Appeals
for the Federal Circuit stated that “the statutory requirements to make out a prima facie
significant aggravation claim are analogous to those required to make out a prima facie initial
onset claim.” The Vaccine Act states that “[t]he term ‘significant aggravation’ means any
change for the worse in a preexisting condition which results in markedly greater disability, pain
or illness accompanied by substantial deterioration of health.” § 300aa-33(4).

       The elements of an off-Table significant aggravation case are set forth in Loving v. HHS,
86 Fed. Cl. 135, 144 (2009). There, the court combined the test from Althen v. HHS, 418 F.3d
1274 (Fed. Cir. 2005), which defines off-Table causation cases, with the test from Whitecotton,
which concerns on-Table significant aggravation cases. The resultant test has six components:

       (1) the person's condition prior to administration of the vaccine, (2) the person's
       current condition (or the condition following the vaccination if that is also
       pertinent), (3) whether the person's current condition constitutes a 'significant
       aggravation' of the person's condition prior to vaccination, (4) a medical theory
       causally connecting such a significant worsened condition to the vaccination, (5) a
       logical sequence of cause and effect showing that the vaccination was the reason
       for the significant aggravation, and (6) a showing of a proximate temporal
       relationship between the vaccination and the significant aggravation.

Loving, 86 Fed. Cl. at 144; see also W.C., 704 F.3d at 1357 (“[T]he Loving case provides the
correct framework for evaluating off-table significant aggravation claims.”).

                                                 II

                          THE OMNIBUS AUTISM PROCEEDING

        This case concerning BTB is one of more than 5,400 cases filed under the Program in
which it has been alleged that a child’s disorder known as an autism spectrum disorder (“ASD”),
or a similar disorder, was caused by one or more vaccinations. A brief summary of one aspect of
that history is relevant to this Decision.

       In anticipation of dealing with such a large group of cases involving a common factual
Issue—i.e., whether vaccinations can cause an ASD—the Office of Special Masters (“OSM”)
devised special procedures. On July 3, 2002, the Chief Special Master, acting on behalf of the

                                                  2
OSM, issued a document entitled the Autism General Order # 1,2 which set up a proceeding
known as the “Omnibus Autism Proceeding” (“OAP”). In the OAP, a group of counsel selected
from attorneys representing petitioners in the ASD cases, known as the Petitioners’ Steering
Committee (“PSC”), was charged with obtaining and presenting evidence concerning the general
issue of whether those vaccines can cause ASD, and, if so, in what circumstances. The evidence
obtained in that general inquiry was to be applied to the individual cases. (Autism General
Order # 1, 2002 WL 31696785, at *3, 2002 U.S. Claims LEXIS 365, at *8.)

        Ultimately, the PSC elected to present two different theories concerning the causation of
ASD. The first theory alleged that the measles portion of the MMR vaccine can cause an ASD,
in situations in which it was alleged that thimerosal-containing vaccines previously weakened an
infant’s immune system. That theory was presented in three separate Program “test cases,”
during several weeks of trial in 2007. The second theory alleged that the mercury contained in
the thimerosal-containing vaccines can directly affect an infant’s brain, thereby substantially
contributing to the development of an ASD. The second theory was presented in three additional
“test cases” during several weeks of trial in 2008.

        On February 12, 2009, decisions were issued concerning the three “test cases” pertaining
to the PSC’s first theory. In each of those three decisions, the petitioners’ causation theories
were rejected. I issued the decision in Cedillo v. HHS, No. 98-916V, 2009 WL 331968 (Fed. Cl.
Spec. Mstr. Feb. 12, 2009). Special Master Patricia Campbell-Smith issued the decision in
Hazlehurst v. HHS, No. 03-654V, 2009 WL 332306 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Feb. 12, 2009).
Special Master Denise Vowell issued the decision in Snyder v. HHS, No. 01-162V, 2009 WL
332044 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Feb. 12, 2009).

        Those three decisions were later each affirmed in three different rulings, by three
different judges of the United States Court of Federal Claims. Snyder v. HHS, 88 Fed. Cl. 706
(2009); Cedillo v. HHS, 89 Fed. Cl. 158 (2009); Hazlehurst v. HHS, 88 Fed. Cl. 473 (2009).
Two of those three rulings were then appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the
Federal Circuit, again resulting in affirmances of the decisions denying the petitioners’ claims.
Cedillo v. HHS, 617 F. 3d 1328 (Fed. Cir. 2010); Hazlehurst v. HHS, 604 F. 3d 1343 (Fed. Cir.
2010).

       On March 12, 2010, the same three special masters issued decisions concerning three
separate “test cases” pertaining to the PSC’s second causation theory. Again, the petitioners’
causation theories were rejected in all three cases. Dwyer v. HHS, No. 03-1202V, 2010 WL
892250 (Fed. Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar.12, 2010); King v. HHS, No. 03-584V, 2010 WL 892296 (Fed.
Cl. Spec. Mstr. Mar. 12, 2010); Mead v. HHS, No. 03-215V, 2010 WL 892248 (Fed. Cl. Spec.
Mstr. Mar. 12, 2010). None of the petitioners elected to seek review of any of those three
decisions.

2
 The Autism General Order # 1 is published at 2002 WL 31696785, 2002 U.S. Claims LEXIS 365 (Fed. Cl. Spec.
Mstr. July 3, 2002). I also note that the documents filed in the Omnibus Autism Proceeding are contained in a
special file kept by the Clerk of this court, known as the “Autism Master File.” An electronic version of that File is
maintained on this Court's website. This electronic version contains a “docket sheet” listing all of the items in the
File, and also contains the complete text of most of the items in the File, with the exception of a few documents that
are withheld from the website due to copyright considerations or due to § 300aa-12(d)(4)(A). To access this
electronic version of the Autism Master File, visit this court's website at www.uscfc.uscourts.gov. Select the
“Vaccine Claims” page, then the “Autism Proceeding” page.
                                                            3
                                                III

                                  PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        The pro se Petitioners, Timothy and Deborah Bokmuller, filed a Short-Form Autism
Petition for Vaccine Compensation on behalf of their son BTB, on August 13, 2008. The case
was assigned at that time to Special Master Gary Golkiewicz. Procedings in the case were
delayed pending the outcome of the Omnibus Autism Proceeding (“OAP”).

       On October 12, 2010, Petitioners secured representation by John McHugh. On February
15, 2011, Petitioners filed medical records marked as Exhibits 1-30. Respondent’s subsequent
“Rule 4 report” noted a lack of required material. (Report, filed Sep. 10, 2008.)

       On May 4, 2011, Petitioners filed an Amended Petition alleging that the vaccinations that
BTB received throughout his life, specifically including the MMR, Hib, and influenza
vaccinations administered on October 25, 2005 as well as the DTP, pneumococcal, and varicella
vaccinations of January 27, 2006, possibly caused their son to suffer from acute disseminated
encephalomyelitis (“ADEM”) or another “underlying condition,” making him “unusually
susceptible to adverse [vaccine] reactions.” A narrative statement by BTB’s mother marked as
Exhibit 31, along with a letter from Michael Waickman, M.D., marked as Exhibit 32,
accompanied the Amended Petition. Dr. Waickman’s letter stated that BTB may suffer from
ADEM and “vaccine intolerance.” (Ex. 32, p. 1.) Dr. Waickman’s letter, however, did not assert
that BTB had any vaccine-caused injury.

       On May 9, 2012, the case was reassigned from Special Master Gary Golkiewicz to the
undersigned special master.

        On May 14, 2012, I filed an Order suspending the time for filing Respondent’s
supplemental “Rule 4 report” until Petitioners filed an expert report or proposed another way to
proceed. Petitioners’ expert report deadline was subsequently extended at least ten times
between July 13, 2012, and May 26, 2015. (Orders, filed Feb. 6, July 1, Aug. 27, Sep. 16, Oct.
25, and Nov. 14, 2013; Feb. 11, and June 9, 2014; and Jan. 22, and Feb. 25, 2015.) Petitioners
were ordered to show cause why their petition should not be dismissed on three occasions when
they failed to provide the necessary expert report. (Orders filed Feb. 6, 2013, Sep. 16, 2013, and
June 5, 2014.)

       On August 5, 2013, Petitioners requested that this case be included with a group of cases
known as the “Mostovoy Omnibus Group.” On February 20, 2015, however, Petitioners filed a
Status Report indicating that they no longer wished to be included in the “Mostovoy Omnibus
Group.”

        On May 1, 2015, Petitioners filed a Motion for a Decision on the Record as it Stands. In
that Motion, they acknowledge that they have been unable to find an expert who could “opine as
to the vaccine connection” or “more particularly as to the extent that any damage done by the
vaccine was not already in place due to the underlying condition.” (Statement, filed May 1, 2015,
p. 2.)

                                                 4
                                                IV

                                             FACTS

        BTB was born October 18, 2004. (Ex. 3, p. 55.) From birth, the Family Health Center at
the Cleveland Clinic’s Independence branch (“Cleveland Clinic”) provided BTB’s primary
pediatric care. (Ex. 7, p. 2.)

        BTB received the hepatitis B (“Hep B”) vaccine on November 2, 2004. (Ex. 5, p. 2; Ex.
7, p. 111.) During his appointment, BTB was also diagnosed as “underweight” and his parents
reported a history of “fussiness.” (Ex. 7, p. 111.) On November 6, 2004, BTB was treated with
silver nitrate for an umbilical cord granuloma, and again his parents complained of fussiness.
(Ex. 7, p. 106.) By November 10, 2004, BTB was “eating well” and “sleeping longer.” (Ex. 7, p.
104.) Saline drops and a humidifier were recommended to address a complaint of nasal
congestion, and a one-week follow-up examination was scheduled. (Ex. 7, p. 104.) On
November 15, 2004, BTB was diagnosed with colic. (Ex. 7, p. 103.)

        On December 13, 2004, BTB received the recommended two-month vaccinations. (Ex. 5,
p. 2; Ex. 7, p. 98) On January 10, 2005, BTB showed signs of a recent upper respiratory
infection, but the condition was improving and no orders or prescriptions regarding the infection
were issued. (Ex. 7, p. 94.)

        On February 11, 2004, BTB received the recommended four-month vaccinations. (Ex. 5,
p. 2; Ex. 7, p. 93.) On March 28, 2005, BTB was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection,
after his parents related a three-day history of fussiness and congestion. (Ex. 7, p. 90.)

        On April 18, 2005, BTB presented with a rash on his temples and chin, and a history of a
ten-day bout of diarrhea that had concluded three days prior. (Ex. 7, p. 87.) He was prescribed
hydrocortisone and Nystatin for his rash, and received his scheduled six-month vaccinations.
(Ex. 5, p. 2; Ex. 7, p. 89.) On May 9, 2005, he presented with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, he
was diagnosed with a fever, and viral enteritis—inflammation of the small intestines. (Ex. 7, p.
85.)

        BTB had an unremarkable well-child visit on July 20, 2005. (Ex. 7, p. 82.) He next
visited the pediatrician on August 30, 2005, with nasal congestion and fever, and was diagnosed
with a viral throat infection. (Ex. 7, p. 81.)

         On October 25, 2005, BTB received the recommended twelve-month vaccinations. (Ex.
5, p. 2; Ex. 7, p. 78.) He presented with a five-day cough and an abated fever thirteen days later
on November 7, 2005, and he was diagnosed with “croup”—an upper airway infection with a
distinctive cough. (Ex. 7, p. 75.) On November 23, 2005, he again presented with a fever and
was diagnosed with pharyngitis. (Ex. 7, p. 72.)

        On January 27, 2006, BTB received the recommended fifteen-month vaccinations. (Ex. 5,
p. 2; Ex. 7, p. 70.) On February 2, 2006, he was diagnosed with viral enteritis and an upper
respiratory infection followed by a middle ear infection and bronchitis two days later. (Ex. 7, pp.
62, 67.)

       During a well-child visit on April 15, 2006, BTB’s parents reported that they had been
reading about autism and expressed concern over BTB’s “hand flapping,” lack of eye contact,
                                                 5
and poor interaction at day-care. (Ex. 7, p. 61.) A referral was made to Diana Wasserman, M.D.,
another pediatrician at the Cleveland Clinic, to evaluate his behavior. (Ex. 7, p. 62.) Dr.
Wasserman diagnosed BTB as developmentally delayed on April 26, 2006, and on May 3, 2006
as having “pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified” (“PDD-NOS”), a form of
autism spectrum disorder. (Ex. 7, p. 56, 52-53.) BTB demonstrated a lack of coordination when
he was evaluated for occupational therapy at the Cleveland Clinic on June 1, 2006 (Ex. 7, p. 51),
and attended therapy on July 10 and 17, 2006 (Ex. 7, pp. 44, 42). On May 1, 2006, BTB was
diagnosed with an ear infection.

        On May 16, 2006, BTB’s parents made an emergency visit to the Southwest General
Medical Center in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, due to BTB’s excessive vomiting. (Ex. 28, p. 2.)
He was prescribed Tylenol and fluids, and was discharged the following day. (Ex. 28, p. 2.) (Ex.
7, p. 54.) BTB’s next doctor’s visit was on June 27, 2006, with his pediatrician concerning a
viral infection and dermatitis. (Ex. 7, p. 48.)

      On July 19, 2006, BTB received the Hepatitis A (“Hep A”) vaccine. (Ex. 5, p. 2; Ex. 7, p.
42.) On August 12, 2006, he was diagnosed with sinusitis and conjunctivitis. (Ex. 7, p. 41.)

       A later medical history taken by Vickie Zurcher, M.D., of the Medical Genetics Clinic,
mentions that on or around September, 20, 2006, “Dr. Roizen of the Child Development
Center . . . felt [BTB] had autism rather than PDD and [BTB’s] parents concur[ed] with this
diagnosis.”3 (Ex. 12, pp. 2-3.)

       BTB received the influenza vaccine on October 31, 2006. (Ex. 5, p. 2; Ex. 7 p. 38.) On
December 12, 2006, he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. (Ex. 7, p. 36.) A
diagnosis of croup, cough, and fever followed two days later. (Ex. 7, p. 24-25.) By December
16, 2006, he had also developed an ear infection. (Ex. 7, p. 22.)

        BTB received allergy testing at the Cleveland Clinic on February 19, 2007, that
confirmed a peanut allergy. (Ex. 7, p. 16.) A year later, on February 21, 2008, tests revealed
allergies to peanuts as well as egg-whites, milk, wheat, corn, and soybeans. (Ex. 13, pp. 3-4.)

       Teething problems and ear pain resulted in three subsequent pediatrician’s visits from
May 25, 2007 to August 24, 2007. (Ex. 7, pp. 10, 15, 13.) After a well-visit on November 1,
2007, (Ex. 7, p. 6.), BTB had an upper respiratory infection November 27, 2007, (Ex. 7, p. 4,)
and pharyngitis on January 30, 2008. (Ex. 7, p. 2-3.)

         On December 30, 2007, BTB was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic’s Hillcrest Hospital
emergency room for blood in his diaper. (Ex. 10, p. 18.) Multiple small gastric ulcers and one
duodenal ulcer were discovered during a colonoscopy performed three days later by Franziska
Mohr, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic. (Ex. 10, p. 29.) Biopsies confirmed inflammation of the
stomach lining which was negative for H. pylori bacteria. (Ex. 10, p. 35.) The duodenal effects
were too nonspecific to attribute to a particular cause. (Ex. 10, p. 35.) A history of
gastroesophageal reflux disease (“GERD”) was noted, and celiac disease was suspected, as was
irritation associated with ibuprofen use. (Ex. 10, p. 30; Ex. 11, p. 37.) By a follow-up visit on
February 21, 2008, BTB had completed an eight-week course of Prevacid, and was “doing well

3
 Records from BTB’s primary care provider, however, retain the PDD-NOS diagnosis after the September 20,
2006, meeting. In any event, PDD-NOS is considered to be a disorder within the autism spectrum.
                                                       6
from a GI standpoint.” (Ex. 11, p. 37.) Genetic tests by Dr. Zurcher on April 8, 2008, further
suggested possible celiac disease. (Ex. 12, p. 5.)

        A test on May 19, 2008, showed that BTB had abnormally low levels of IgA. (Ex. 15, p.
6.) BTB was examined on June 15, 2008, by Melvin Berger, M.D., of the University Hospitals
of Cleveland, Division of Allergy/Immunology. (Ex. 15, p. 5.) A follow-up report dated August
25, 2008, confirmed BTB’s IgA deficiency. (Ex. 15, p. 1.) BTB had not, however, “required
antibiotics nor had fever once” since his initial visit and the doctor was “pleased” with his
progress. (Ex. 15, p. 1.) Immunoglobulin G (“IgG”) supplementation was suggested to best
avoid fevers either from immunizations or infections while BTB was in school. (Ex. 16, p. 14.)

      On February 25, 2009, Felicitas Juguilon, M.D., of the Anti-Aging & Vitality Center in
Seven Hills, Ohio, diagnosed BTB with hypogammaglobulinemia. (Ex. 22, p. 8.)

        May 7, 2009, BTB received a colonoscopy at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton,
Pennsylvania, and all observations were reported as normal. (Ex. 23, p. 10.) Biopsies obtained
during the procedure suggested possible early inflammatory bowel disease or an
allergic/autoimmune process. (Ex. 23, p. 21.) As of September 13, 2010, BTB was doing well
receiving acid-reflux treatment and anti-inflammatories, and was having “regular” stools of
“normal consistency.” (Ex. 23, p. 23.) Addition of a digestive enzyme to his diet was suggested,
but no further changes were recommended. (Ex. 23, p. 23.)

                                                       V

                                        ISSUES FOR DECISION

        Petitioners have sought a Program award, contending that one or more vaccinations4
injured their son, BTB. In their Motion for a Decision on the Record as it Stands, filed on May 1,
2015, Petitioners assert that BTB has reacted to various vaccinations with episodes of “fever and
diarrhea,” due to BTB’s preexisting condition of “vaccine intolerance” due to a hereditary
immune deficiency. (Motion, pp. 1-2.) However, Petitioners in that Motion also acknowledged
that they have been unable to find a medical expert willing to opine that BTB has any vaccine-
caused injury. After careful consideration, I conclude that Petitioners have failed to demonstrate
that any of their son’s unfortunate episodes of gastrointestinal problems and fevers have been
causally connected to any of his vaccinations.

                                                      VI

                                               DISCUSSION

        To receive compensation under the Program, Petitioners must prove that it is “more
probable than not” that either: (1) BTB suffered a “Table Injury”—i.e., an injury falling within
the Vaccine Injury Table—corresponding to one of his vaccinations, or (2) BTB suffered an
injury that was actually caused by a vaccine. See §§ 300aa-13(a)(1)(A), -11(c)(1). In my
examination of the filed medical records, however, I did not find in the record any evidence that

4
 Petitioners refer both to: (a) “MMR” and “Varicella” in a statement filed on August 5, 2013, and (b) “MMR [],
Varicella and Hep A” in a Statement filed on June 5, 2014. BTB received these vaccinations: Oct. 25, 2005 (MMR);
Jan. 27, 2006 (Varicella); and July 19, 2006 (Hep A). (Ex. 5, p. 2.)
                                                         7
BTB suffered a “Table Injury.” Further, the records do not contain a medical expert’s opinion or
any other evidence indicating that BTB suffered any injury caused by his vaccinations, or that
BTB’s autistic spectrum disorder was affected by a vaccine. No physician expressed such an
opinion in the records that I reviewed.

        Under the statute, a petitioner may not be given a Program award based solely on the
petitioner’s claims alone. See, e.g., Taylor v. HHS, 2012 WL 5205468, at *3 (Fed. Cl. Spec.
Mstr. Sept. 14, 2012). Rather, the petition must be supported by either medical records or by the
opinion of a competent physician. § 300aa-13(a)(1). Here, because the medical records do not
seem to support the Petitioners’ claim, a medical opinion must be offered in support. Petitioners,
however, have offered no such opinion.

        In this case, Petitioners failed to provide a medical expert’s opinion indicating that BTB
suffered from an injury that was, more likely than not, caused or aggravated by one or more
specific vaccinations. Furthermore, I have reviewed the records and do not find evidence
supporting such a claim.

                                                VII

                                         CONCLUSION

        I am, of course, sympathetic to the fact that Petitioners’ son suffers from a very
unfortunate medical condition. However, under the law I can authorize compensation only if a
medical condition or injury either falls within one of the “Table Injury” categories, or is shown
by medical records or competent medical opinion to be vaccine-caused. No such proof exists in
the record before me. Accordingly, it is clear from the record in this case that Petitioners have
not demonstrated either that a vaccination has “actually caused” any injury to their son, or that
any of his symptoms resulted from a vaccine-caused aggravation of his pre-existing genetic
immunodeficiency. Therefore, I have no choice but to hereby DENY this claim. In the absence
of a timely-filed motion for review of this decision (See RCFC app. B), the Clerk shall enter
judgment in accord with this decision.

                                                      s/George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                      George L. Hastings, Jr.
                                                      Special Master

                                                 8