Court Opinion

ID: 4104035
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-02 13:02:26.066984+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:39.675545
License: Public Domain

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
                                 OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
                                          No. 16-0851V
                                   Filed: September 23, 2016
                                           Unpublished

****************************
CARRIE BRAZELTON,                      *
                                       *
                    Petitioner,        *      Ruling on Entitlement; Concession;
                                       *      Influenza (“Flu”) Vaccine; Shoulder
v.                                     *      Injury Related to Vaccine Administration
                                       *      (“SIRVA”); Special Processing Unit
SECRETARY OF HEALTH                    *      (“SPU”)
AND HUMAN SERVICES,                    *
                                       *
                    Respondent.        *
                                       *
****************************
Amber D. Wilson, Maglio Christopher and Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner.
Voris E. Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

                                    RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

Dorsey, Chief Special Master:

        On July 20, 2016, Carrie Brazelton (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation
under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et
seq., 2 (the “Vaccine Act” or “Program”). Petitioner alleges that as a result of receiving
the influenza (“flu”) vaccine on September 30, 2015, she suffered a shoulder injury
related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”). Petition at 1. The case was assigned to
the Special Processing Unit (“SPU”) of the Office of Special Masters.

       On September 22, 2016, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) report conceding
entitlement to compensation in this case. Rule 4(c) Rep. at 1. Respondent concluded,
based on her evaluation of the evidence, that petitioner suffered a SIRVA, and that the
preponderance of the medical evidence indicates the injury was causally related to the
flu vaccination she received on September 30, 2015. Id. at 4. Respondent stated that

1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the
undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with
the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012)(Federal Management and Promotion of
Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to
identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an
unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits
within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access.

2National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for
ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2012).
she did not identify any other causes for petitioner’s SIRVA, and that the evidence of
record demonstrates petitioner has suffered the residual effects of her condition for
more than six months. Id. Petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for
compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id.

     In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence of record, the
undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

                                  s/Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Nora Beth Dorsey
                                  Chief Special Master

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