Timothy Williams v. HHS - Influenza, myasthenia gravis, CIDP, and inflammatory polyradiculopathy (2025)

Timothy Williams alleged that he suffered myasthenia gravis (MG) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) caused by an influenza vaccination he received on September 16, 2016. Initially, the case focused on MG and CIDP, but later evolved to include inflammatory polyradiculopathy.

The petitioner presented medical records and expert testimony, primarily from Dr. Lawrence Steinman, who opined that the petitioner suffered from inflammatory polyradiculopathy.

The respondent, represented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, presented expert testimony from Dr. Raymond S.

Price, who argued that the petitioner's symptoms were most consistent with MG, and that the onset of MG likely predated the vaccination. Both parties' experts agreed that CIDP was not the correct diagnosis.

After the entitlement hearing, the petitioner released his claim that the flu vaccine caused MG. The court found that the petitioner's symptoms, particularly his response to Mestinon, were more consistent with MG than inflammatory polyradiculopathy.

The court also noted that the petitioner's treating neurologist, Dr. Smith, while expressing frustration with the lack of definitive diagnostic evidence for MG, continued to list MG as a diagnosis and prescribed related treatments.

Ultimately, the court concluded that the petitioner had not met his burden of proof to establish that he suffered from inflammatory polyradiculopathy caused by the vaccine. Therefore, the petition was denied.

The case was filed on December 18, 2019, and the decision was issued on January 23, 2026.