{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01278","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01278-1","petitioner_identifier":"Debra Allen","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":60.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2013-10-01","condition_raw":"adhesive capsulitis","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"entitlement_granted_pending_damages","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2022-06-23","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T04:49:45.250087+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":2,"theory_of_causation":"Petitioner Debra Allen, age 60, received an intradermal influenza vaccine on October 1, 2013. She alleged this caused adhesive capsulitis. Petitioner's experts, Dr. Eric Gershwin and Dr. Steven Graboff, opined that the vaccine induced a severe local inflammatory response, leading to pain, protective behavior, and ultimately adhesive capsulitis. Dr. Gershwin cited literature on systemic inflammatory responses to intradermal vaccines. Dr. Graboff stated this was a classic case of post-injection inflammatory response leading to adhesive capsulitis. Respondent's experts, Dr. Harry Schroeder and Dr. Paul Cagle, argued the injury was due to underlying rotator cuff pathology and that the intradermal administration precluded direct needle injury to the joint or bursa. Dr. Cagle specifically stated the needle was too short to reach the rotator cuff. The Special Master, Thomas L. Gowen, found that petitioner proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the flu vaccination caused her adhesive capsulitis, satisfying the Althen prongs. The Special Master found the medical records and expert opinions supported the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis, and that the onset of symptoms within days of vaccination was a medically acceptable temporal relationship. Entitlement was granted pending damages. The theory of causation was determined to be Off-Table. Attorneys for petitioner were Howard S. Gold and Althea W. Davis for respondent. The decision date was June 23, 2022.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2015-10-28","case_summary":"Debra Allen, born December 5, 1954, filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on October 28, 2015. She alleged that an intradermal influenza vaccine administered on October 1, 2013, caused left shoulder inflammation, adhesive capsulitis, and a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA). Petitioner's medical records indicated that she experienced severe pain, swelling, and limited range of motion in her left shoulder starting within days of the vaccination. Despite various treatments, including physical therapy and cortisone injections, her symptoms persisted, leading to a diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis and a rotator cuff tear. She underwent shoulder surgery on January 7, 2014, which included manipulation under anesthesia with audible lysis of adhesions. Petitioner's experts, Dr. Eric Gershwin (immunologist) and Dr. Steven Graboff (orthopedic surgeon), opined that the vaccine caused a local inflammatory response leading to adhesive capsulitis. Respondent argued that the injury was due to underlying rotator cuff pathology and that the intradermal administration ruled out direct needle injury to the joint. Respondent's experts included Dr. Harry Schroeder (immunologist) and Dr. Paul Cagle (orthopedic surgeon). The Special Master, Thomas L. Gowen, found that petitioner proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the flu vaccination caused her adhesive capsulitis, satisfying the Althen prongs for causation. Entitlement to compensation was granted, pending a damages award. The decision was issued on June 23, 2022.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Thomas L. Gowen","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Howard S. Gold","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Howard S. Gold","petitioner_attorney_location":"Sudbury, MA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|howard-gold|","firm_canonical_key":"howard-s-gold","package_title":"ALLEN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01278","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01278.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01278.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01278-0","title":"ALLEN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/16/2017) regarding 46 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees ( Signed by Special Master Thomas L. 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SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 11/17/2022) regarding 101 DECISION on DAMAGES: Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (slw) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2022-12-08","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"no decision/ruling/opinion signal in docketText","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_15-vv-01278-3","title":"ALLEN v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 05/25/2023) regarding 109 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-06-02","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}