Joshua Schulz v. HHS - Influenza, transverse myelitis (2025)

On December 10, 2019, Joshua Schulz filed a pro se petition alleging that an influenza vaccine administered on October 17, 2016 caused transverse myelitis. He was born in 1982 and was 34 years old at vaccination.

The decision described a complicated pre- and post-vaccination record. Mr.

Schulz had undergone back surgery after an ice-skating injury and received the flu vaccine during a visit for pain-medication refills shortly before a second microdiscectomy. He later reported symptoms including tongue numbness, neck pain, tingling, and sensory complaints, and he argued that imaging and later medical review supported transverse myelitis caused by the vaccine.

The Secretary opposed compensation and argued the chronology and medical evidence did not support causation. Special Master Christian J.

Moran denied Mr. Schulz's motion for appointed counsel and denied entitlement on August 28, 2025.

The decision found that the basic chronology did not support vaccine causation, that the medical opinions and treating records were not sufficient under Althen, and that the evidence did not preponderate in favor of the flu vaccine causing transverse myelitis. No compensation was awarded.