Evelyn Ashford v. HHS - Td, right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)
Case summary [AI summaries can sometimes make mistakes]
On February 1, 2021, Evelyn Ashford filed a petition alleging that a tetanus-diphtheria vaccination administered on November 22, 2020 caused a right shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. She was 50 years old at vaccination.
Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found the record did not support the required Table onset or an off-Table causal link.
Ms. Ashford had no prior right shoulder complaint documented, but when right shoulder symptoms were first noted several weeks after vaccination, the record did not connect them to the vaccine and described mild posterior scapular tenderness with normal range of motion.
Later records attributed pain to lifting a potted plant and gardening. By early 2021, symptoms included radiation down the arm, hand numbness, neck and spine pain, and diagnoses such as adhesive capsulitis, rhomboid strain, and cervical radiculopathy; physical therapy focused on the neck and cervical spine led to improvement.
The Special Master gave greater weight to the contemporaneous medical records than to later litigation statements and concluded that Ms. Ashford had not shown onset within 48 hours or vaccine causation.
The petition was dismissed on August 19, 2025, without compensation.
Theory of causation
Td vaccine on November 22, 2020, age 50, alleged right SIRVA. DISMISSED. Chief Special Master Corcoran found insufficient proof of onset within 48 hours and insufficient causal link. Records first noted right shoulder pain weeks later, with normal ROM, later reports attributed symptoms to lifting a potted plant/gardening, and later diagnoses included adhesive capsulitis, rhomboid strain, and cervical radiculopathy with neck/radiating symptoms. No compensation. Decision August 19, 2025. Attorney: Leah V. Durant.
Source PDFs
USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-00828