Susan West v. HHS - Influenza, optic neuritis (2025)

On June 28, 2021, Susan West filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccine caused right optic neuritis. Although some filings referenced October 19, 2019, Special Master Thomas L.

Gowen's factual ruling treated the actual vaccination date as October 9, 2019. Ms.

West reported right eye movement pain beginning on October 18, 2019 and later developed vision loss. A November 5, 2019 MRI showed inflammation of the right optic nerve, supporting an optic neuritis diagnosis.

Later ophthalmologic findings included optic atrophy, pallor, retinal nerve fiber layer thinning, and macular ganglion cell thinning. Petitioner argued that those findings showed a persistent vaccine-related injury lasting more than six months.

Respondent denied causation and argued that Ms. West's vision complaints predated vaccination or reflected other conditions, including dry eye.

Petitioner relied on neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Devin D.

Mackay, while respondent relied on neurologist/neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Marc Bouffard.

Special Master Gowen found the severity requirement satisfied and the parties later resolved compensation by stipulation. On April 2, 2025, Ms.

West received a lump-sum award of $73,500.00.