{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899-0","petitioner_identifier":"Carla Durham","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":45.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2016-12-30","condition_raw":"Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”)","condition_category":"SIRVA","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"dismissed","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2023-05-02","extraction_version":"gemini-v2","extracted_at":"2026-04-30T00:54:42.889379+00:00","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"unclear","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2017-12-07","case_summary":"Carla Durham, a 45-year-old adult, received an influenza vaccine on December 30, 2016. She alleged that the vaccination caused Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), a condition listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. Ms. Durham reported experiencing pain in her left shoulder and arm shortly after the vaccination, which she believed was improperly administered. Her symptoms progressed over several weeks, including radiating pain and numbness into her hand, and limited range of motion in her shoulder. She sought treatment from multiple physicians, including orthopedists and a physical medicine specialist, who diagnosed her with conditions such as myositis, fibromyalgia, cervical radiculopathy, and cervical spondylosis. The medical records showed conflicting indicators regarding whether her symptoms were solely related to her shoulder or also involved her cervical spine. Ms. Durham argued that her condition met the criteria for a Table SIRVA injury and, alternatively, that the vaccine caused her injury-in-fact. The respondent contended that her symptoms were better explained by her pre-existing cervical radiculopathy and fibromyalgia, and that she failed to meet the specific criteria for a Table SIRVA. The Special Master reviewed expert reports from both petitioner and respondent, as well as the extensive medical records. Ultimately, the Special Master found that Ms. Durham did not meet the requirements for a Table SIRVA, specifically failing to demonstrate that her pain and range of motion were limited to the shoulder and that no other condition explained her symptoms. Furthermore, the Special Master concluded that Ms. Durham did not establish causation-in-fact, finding insufficient evidence to prove a logical sequence of cause and effect between the vaccination and her shoulder injury, particularly given the confounding diagnoses of cervical radiculopathy and fibromyalgia. As a result, the petition was dismissed, and Ms. Durham was not entitled to compensation.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Daniel T. Horner","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Leah VaSahnja Durant","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC","petitioner_attorney_location":"Washington, DC","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|leah-durant|","firm_canonical_key":"law-offices-of-leah-v-durant","package_title":"DURHAM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899-0","title":"DURHAM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 4/7/2023) regarding 76 DECISION of Special Master Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (st) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2023-05-02","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":373809,"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-01899/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-01899-1","title":"DURHAM v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 9/6/2024) regarding 86 DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Daniel T. Horner. (ksb) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-10-01","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"}]}