Decker v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims

OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 26-87V

REBEKAH DECKER,

Chief Special Master Corcoran Petitioner,

v. Filed: August 21, 2026 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,

Respondent.

David Charles Richards, Christensen & Jensen, P.C., Salt Lake City, UT, for Petitioner. Mikaela Torbert, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.

RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1

On January 16, 2026, Rebekah Decker 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 January 19, 2023 influenza (“flu”) vaccination caused her to suffer a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 C.F.R. § 100.3. Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that she suffered the residual effects of her injury for more than six months, and that there has been no prior award or settlement of a civil action on her behalf as a result of her injury. See Petition at ¶¶ 19-20, 22. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.

1 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).

On August 20, 2026, 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 states that he recommends that petitioner be found entitled to compensation for a Table SIRVA. Petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or dysfunction of her left shoulder prior to vaccination that would explain petitioner’s post- vaccination symptoms; shoulder pain occurred within forty-eight hours after receipt of an intramuscular flu vaccination; shoulder pain and ROM were limited to the side in which the vaccine was administered; and no other condition or abnormality has been identified to explain petitioner’s shoulder pain. See 42 C.F.R. § 100.3(a)(XIV)(B), (c)(10). Additionally, petitioner suffered the residual effects of her condition for more than six months. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1)(D)(i). Therefore, based on the current record, petitioner has satisfied all requirements for compensation under the Act. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-13(a)(1)(A-B).

Id. at 5.

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