Maheshchan Inamdar v. HHS - Influenza, bilateral, sudden sensorineural hearing loss (2019)

Maheshchan Inamdar, an 80-year-old man, filed a petition alleging that the influenza vaccine he received on September 12, 2013, caused him to develop bilateral, sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Mr.

Inamdar had a history of mild hearing loss and vision loss prior to vaccination. He reported experiencing diminished hearing in both ears within 24 hours of receiving the flu shot.

Medical evaluations confirmed moderate to severe SNHL in both ears. Petitioner's expert, Dr.

David Axelrod, proposed that the flu vaccine could cause SNHL through the production of proinflammatory cytokines or through molecular mimicry, leading to damage of inner ear neurons. Respondent's expert, Dr.

Douglas Bigelow, countered that the scientific literature did not support a link between the flu vaccine and SNHL, and instead pointed to Azithromycin, an antibiotic Mr. Inamdar had taken for bronchitis shortly before vaccination, as a more likely cause.

The court found that Petitioner failed to establish a reliable medical theory connecting the flu vaccine to SNHL, as the cited literature was either not directly applicable or did not support the proposed mechanisms. Furthermore, the court determined that Petitioner did not establish a logical sequence of cause and effect or a medically acceptable temporal relationship between the vaccine and his hearing loss.

The court also considered and denied Petitioner's motion for reconsideration of a prior fact ruling regarding his use of Azithromycin. Ultimately, the court concluded that Petitioner had not met his burden of proof and denied his claim for compensation.