Astanova v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 25-0677V

GUZAL ASTANOVA, as Parent and Chief Special Master Corcoran Natural Guardian of A.R., a Minor, Filed: November 21, 2025 Petitioner, v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.

Jimmy A. Zgheib, Zgheib Sayad, P.C., White Plains, NY, for Petitioner.

Emily Hanson, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1 On April 21, 2025, Guzal Astanova 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 her child, A.R., suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following Hepatitis A and HPV vaccination administered on July 26, 2024. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that A.R. suffered the residual effects of his vaccine-related injury for more than six months. Petition at ¶ 27. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

On November 10, 2025, 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) Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (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.

2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018).

Report at 1. Respondent states that “A.R.’s alleged injury is consistent with SIRVA as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table. Specifically, A.R. had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of his left shoulder prior to vaccination; pain occurred within forty-eight hours after receipt of an intramuscular vaccination; pain and reduce range of motion was limited to the shoulder in which the vaccines were administered; and no other condition or abnormality has been identified to explain Petitioner’s shoulder pain.” Id. at 5. Respondent further agrees that, “based on the record as it now stands, Petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the Act.” 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