Bradley Grow v. HHS - Influenza, brachial neuritis, also known as Parsonage Turner Syndrome (2020)

Bradley Grow filed a petition alleging that the influenza vaccine he received on January 14, 2013, caused him to develop brachial neuritis, also known as Parsonage Turner Syndrome (PTS). Mr.

Grow, a 50-year-old man, had a significant pre-existing history of shoulder and back pain, diagnosed as chronic carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle spasms, myalgia, and myofasciitis, dating back to at least 2009. He received the flu vaccine on January 14, 2013.

Approximately three weeks later, he reported new pain in his right shoulder blade area, which he considered the onset of his condition. His condition progressed to include weakness and atrophy in his right arm and chest muscles.

Petitioner's expert, Dr. Gershwin, opined that the flu vaccine caused an inflammatory response leading to PTS, citing general mechanisms of immune response and a few case studies.

Respondent's expert, Dr. Leist, argued that the onset of weakness, which occurred approximately five months after vaccination, was too late for a vaccine-related injury and that Mr.

Grow's extensive history of pain, exercise regimen, and divorce were more likely causes of his condition. The court found that Petitioner failed to establish a reliable medical theory connecting the flu vaccine to PTS (Althen prong one), failed to demonstrate a logical sequence of cause and effect due to his extensive pre-existing pain and conflicting medical records (Althen prong two), and failed to establish a proximate temporal relationship given his pre-existing pain (Althen prong three).

Consequently, the court denied Mr. Grow's claim and dismissed his petition.