Yvette Moyler v. HHS - Tdap, brachial neuritis (2025)

Yvette Moyler filed a petition alleging that a Tdap vaccine administered on September 9, 2019, caused her to develop brachial neuritis (BN), a condition listed on the Vaccine Injury Table. She claimed her symptoms persisted for more than six months, meeting the severity requirement for compensation.

The initial medical records showed pain at the injection site within two weeks of vaccination, described as a "toothache," with tenderness but normal range of motion. Treatment at that time involved home care like cold compresses and Tylenol.

Ms. Moyler did not seek further medical evaluation for her arm for approximately nine months, during which time she had appointments for pre-existing conditions like diabetes and hypertension but did not report shoulder pain.

She then began a new job requiring significant lifting, which she stated exacerbated her symptoms. Upon returning to medical care in June 2020, her reported symptoms included swelling, burning pain radiating to her neck, hand swelling, and tingling, which differed from her initial complaints.

The special master found that Ms. Moyler failed to establish the required six-month severity of injury, noting the significant gap in treatment and the differing symptomology before and after that gap.

The court reviewed the special master's decision, finding it was not arbitrary or capricious. The court affirmed the dismissal, concluding that the special master reasonably determined that Ms.

Moyler's later symptoms were likely due to a new injury from her physically demanding job rather than a continuation of the vaccine-related injury, and that the initial symptoms did not meet the six-month duration requirement.