{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-1","petitioner_identifier":"Susan West","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":null,"age_unit_raw":"adult (exact age not stated in public source)","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2019-10-09","condition_raw":"optic neuritis","condition_category":"neurological","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"compensated","award_amount_usd":73500,"decision_date":"2025-04-02","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05-normal32","extracted_at":"2026-05-04 18:47:15","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":9,"theory_of_causation":"Influenza vaccine October 9, 2019 causing right optic neuritis; adult exact age not stated. COMPENSATED. Onset evidence: right eye movement pain October 18, 2019, vision loss by early November, MRI November 5, 2019 showing right optic nerve inflammation; later optic atrophy/pallor and retinal nerve fiber/macular ganglion cell thinning. Petitioner expert Dr. Devin D. Mackay; respondent expert Dr. Marc Bouffard argued dry eye/preexisting complaints/no qualifying sequelae. SM Gowen found severity supported; stipulation awarded $73,500.00 on April 2, 2025. Petition filed June 28, 2021.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2021-06-28","case_summary":"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.\n\nMs. 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.\n\nRespondent 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.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Thomas L. Gowen","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Andrew D. Downing; Alison Haskins","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Downing, Allison & Jorgenson; Siri & Glimstad, LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Phoenix, AZ; Aventura, FL","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|andrew-downing|alison-haskins|","firm_canonical_key":"downing-allison-and-jorgenson","package_title":"WEST v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-0","title":"WEST v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC RULING (Originally filed: 08/19/2024) regarding 55 Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2024-09-13","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":370117,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'findings of fact'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-0"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-1","title":"WEST v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/02/2025) regarding 68 DECISION Stipulation. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2025-06-16","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-1/pdf","pdf_bytes":798804,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'stipulation'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-1"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-cl-extra-11071944","title":"West v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10605356","date_issued":"2025-06-16","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: West v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-cl-extra-11071944"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-2","title":"WEST v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"e on parties made.PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 09/16/2025) regarding 76 DECISION of Special Master - Interim Attorney's Fees; DECISION of Special Master - Fees. Signed by Special Master Thomas L. Gowen. (hs) Servic","date_issued":"2026-01-08","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"skip","triage_reason":"fees-only decision (attorney compensation)","download_status":"skipped"},{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-cl-extra-11237536","title":"West v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","docket_text":"Supplementary opinion from CourtListener cluster 10770951","date_issued":"2026-01-08","pdf_url":null,"pdf_bytes":null,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"CL supplement: West v. Secretary of Health and Human Services","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-01515-cl-extra-11237536"}]}