{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-2","petitioner_identifier":"R.A.","is_minor":1,"age_at_vaccination":1.02,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"MMR","vaccination_date":"1999-12-13","condition_raw":"Autism Spectrum Disorder","condition_category":"ASD_autism","autism_spectrum_adjacent":1,"outcome":"denied","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2017-05-05","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:28:30.236166+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":2,"dose_number":1,"time_to_onset_days":180,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioners alleged that the MMR vaccine administered on December 13, 1999, exacerbated an underlying mitochondrial disorder in R.A., leading to his developmental regression and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Petitioners' expert, Dr. Ahm Mahbubul Huq, opined that R.A. suffered from mitochondrial dysfunction, triggered by the vaccine and a subsequent febrile illness, causing inflammation and immune dysfunction that resulted in ASD. Respondent's expert, Dr. Bruce Cohen, testified that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease or dysfunction in R.A. and that the alleged developmental problems were not causally linked to the MMR vaccine. Special Master Brian H. Corcoran denied entitlement, finding that petitioners failed to establish R.A. had mitochondrial disease or dysfunction, that the medical records did not support a causal link between the MMR vaccine and R.A.'s developmental problems due to the delayed onset of symptoms, and that the petitioners failed to satisfy the Althen prongs for causation. The Court of Federal Claims affirmed the denial.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2002-10-01","case_summary":"On October 1, 2002, Bruce and Donna Anderson filed a petition on behalf of their son, R.A., seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. They alleged that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine R.A. received on December 13, 1999, exacerbated an underlying mitochondrial disorder, leading to his developmental regression and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). R.A. was born on December 10, 1998. His early childhood was marked by routine immunizations and generally healthy well-child visits, though he experienced some minor pediatric issues. Following the MMR and Varicella vaccinations on December 13, 1999, R.A.'s parents reported he became lethargic and developed a high fever. Medical records from the following months noted various illnesses, but the first documented developmental concerns appeared in June 2000, approximately six months post-vaccination, when his pediatrician noted he did not always follow commands and would not point to pictures. By his two-year visit in December 2000, his developmental delays were more pronounced. Over the subsequent years, R.A. was evaluated by numerous specialists, and by November 2001, he was functioning at an 18-month level in language skills and scored as moderate-to-severely autistic. Petitioners' theory centered on R.A. having an underlying mitochondrial disorder that was aggravated by the MMR vaccine. They presented expert testimony from Dr. Ahm Mahbubul Huq, who opined that R.A. had mitochondrial dysfunction triggered by the vaccine, leading to inflammation and subsequent autism. Respondent presented expert testimony from Dr. Bruce Cohen, who rebutted the mitochondrial disorder diagnosis, stating that the medical records did not support it and that R.A.'s symptoms were not consistent with mitochondrial disease. Dr. Cohen also challenged the reliability of the testing and assumptions made by petitioners' experts. Following an evidentiary hearing, Special Master Brian H. Corcoran issued a decision on November 1, 2016, denying entitlement. The Special Master found that petitioners failed to establish R.A. suffered from mitochondrial disease or dysfunction, noting that the diagnostic evidence was inconsistent and based on flawed assumptions. He also found that the medical records did not support a causal link between the MMR vaccine and R.A.'s developmental problems, particularly because the documented concerns appeared six months post-vaccination, outside the expected timeframe for an acute vaccine reaction. The Special Master also found that petitioners failed to establish a reliable causation theory, a logical sequence of cause and effect, or a medically acceptable timeframe, and that the theory of vaccine-induced autism had historically been unsuccessful in the Program. The Court of Federal Claims, in a decision by Chief Judge Susan G. Braden on May 5, 2017, affirmed the Special Master's decision, finding that the Special Master's factual findings were not arbitrary or capricious and his legal conclusions were in accordance with law. The court deferred to the Special Master's credibility determinations regarding the expert witnesses and found no error in his analysis of the Althen factors. The petition was denied.","is_minor_inferred":null,"is_pediatric_broad":1,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Sylvia Chin-Caplan","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Law Office of Sylvia Chin-Caplan","petitioner_attorney_location":"Boston, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|ronald-homer|sylvia-chin-caplan|","firm_canonical_key":"law-office-of-sylvia-chin-caplan","package_title":"ANDERSON, et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-0","title":"ANDERSON, et al v. 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(ed) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2017-02-15","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":431947,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'decision of special master'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-2","title":"ANDERSON, et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"JUDGE VACCINE REPORTED OPINION re: 117 Order on Motion for Review, Order on Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages, Judge Vaccine Order/Opinion Signed by Chief Judge Susan G. Braden. (rgh) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2017-05-05","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-2/pdf","pdf_bytes":543783,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'opinion'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314/USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-2"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-3","title":"ANDERSON, et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/09/2017) regarding 123 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees. Signed by Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (sb) Copy to parties.","date_issued":"2017-07-10","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_02-vv-01314-4","title":"ANDERSON, et al v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/16/2018) Regarding 134 DECISION of Special Master - Fees (Signed by Special Master Brian H. Corcoran). (cr) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2018-12-26","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}