Jared Trinnaman v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2024)

Jared Trinnaman, a 36-year-old adult, received an influenza vaccine on September 23, 2019. Approximately two weeks later, he began experiencing right shoulder pain and reported an inability to move his arm.

He was diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis, and his condition was noted as slowly improving. The case proceeded as a Table claim for Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA).

However, the court ultimately denied compensation. The primary reason for denial was that Mr.

Trinnaman failed to meet the statutory severity requirement, which mandates that residual effects of the injury must persist for more than six months post-vaccination. The court found that Mr.

Trinnaman's medical treatment records showed significant gaps, particularly a seven-month period between October 2019 and March 2020, and another three-month gap later. Despite Mr.

Trinnaman's explanation that his extensive work travel prevented him from seeking consistent medical care, the court found that his travel records indicated he sought treatment when necessary for other issues, suggesting he would have done so for his shoulder if symptoms had persisted. Furthermore, later medical appointments in May, September, and October 2020, while addressing shoulder pain, were often telemedicine visits with no physical examination, and the treating physicians speculated about alternative causes or noted improvement.

The court concluded there was insufficient evidence of continuous symptoms through the required six-month period. Consequently, the petition was dismissed.