{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513-0","petitioner_identifier":"Marlie Barlow","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":82.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2015-10-02","condition_raw":"left arm peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome","condition_category":"other","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2020-08-18","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:49:31.288865+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":169,"theory_of_causation":"Off-Table","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2017-04-12","case_summary":"Marlie Barlow, an 82-year-old male, received a Fluzone high-dose influenza vaccination on October 2, 2015. He filed a petition alleging that the vaccine caused and/or significantly aggravated his pre-existing peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in his left arm. The court reviewed the medical records and expert opinions to determine causation. Mr. Barlow had a history of peripheral neuropathy dating back to 2012 and a left wrist injury in 2014 that was diagnosed as possible rupture of a tendon, predating the vaccination. His alleged symptoms related to the vaccination, specifically left arm numbness and tingling, were not documented by medical providers until approximately five and a half months after the vaccination. Petitioner's expert, Dr. Brad Klein, proposed a theory that the vaccine caused a hypersensitivity reaction leading to inflammation and swelling, which aggravated the existing conditions. Respondent's expert, Dr. Miles Steven Evans, disagreed, arguing that the swelling was not severe enough, the conditions were chronic rather than acute, the flu vaccine is not implicated in such injuries, and diabetes is the primary risk factor. The court found that petitioner failed to establish a sound and reliable medical theory for causation (Althen Prong One), a logical sequence of cause and effect consistent with his clinical course (Althen Prong Two), and a proximate temporal relationship given the significant delay in symptom reporting (Althen Prong Three). The court also analyzed the claim under the Loving test for significant aggravation and found it lacking. Ultimately, the court determined that Mr. Barlow did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the flu vaccination caused or significantly aggravated his conditions. Therefore, his petition was dismissed.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Nora Beth Dorsey","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Joseph A. Vuckovich","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Maglio Christopher and Toale, P.A.","petitioner_attorney_location":"Washington, DC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|joseph-vuckovich|","firm_canonical_key":"maglio-christopher-and-toale","package_title":"BARLOW v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513-0","title":"BARLOW v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 8/18/2020) regarding 52 DECISION of Special Master. Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (mca) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2020-09-14","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":483270,"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_17-vv-00513/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00513-1","title":"BARLOW v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/07/2021) regarding 59 DECISION of Special Master - Fees Signed by Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey. (kp) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2021-07-01","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}