Sternal v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-1130V UNPUBLISHED

NATALIE STERNAL, Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner, Filed: December 30, 2020 v. Special Processing Unit (SPU); SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; HUMAN SERVICES, Table Injury; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Respondent. Administration (SIRVA)

John Robert Howie, Howie Law, PC, Dallas, TX, for petitioner.

Zoe Wade, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1 On August 5, 2019, Natalie Sternal filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. 2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered the “Table Injury” of Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) as a result of her October 5, 2017 influneza (“flu”) vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On December 28, 2020, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, Respondent indicates that

Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, I am required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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). This means the ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. 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, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.

National 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).

DICP [ the Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Department of Health and Human Services] has reviewed the petition and medical records filed in this case, and concluded that compensation is appropriate. DICP has concluded that petitioner’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA of the left arm and that it meets the requirements of a Table injury claim for SIRVA stemming from the flu vaccination on October 5, 2017.

Id. at 6 (citing 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1)(B); 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1)(D)).

Respondent further indicates that “DICP did not identify any other causes for petitioner’s injury, and records show that she suffered the sequela of this injury for more than six months. Based on the medical records outlined above, petitioner has met the statutory requirements for entitlement to compensation.” Id. In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that Petitioner is entitled to compensation.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master