{"package_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077","decision_granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077-0","petitioner_identifier":"Randall S. Blank","is_minor":0,"age_at_vaccination":61.0,"age_unit_raw":"years","vaccine_type":"influenza","vaccination_date":"2020-09-23","condition_raw":"left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)","condition_category":"SIRVA","autism_spectrum_adjacent":0,"outcome":"entitlement_granted_pending_damages","award_amount_usd":null,"decision_date":"2026-03-23","extraction_version":"manual-supplement-redo-2026-05","extracted_at":"2026-05-04 02:09:43","number_of_concurrent_vaccines":1,"dose_number":null,"time_to_onset_days":0,"theory_of_causation":"Influenza vaccine on September 23, 2020, causing Table left SIRVA; ENTITLEMENT GRANTED, damages pending. Age 61. Respondent disputed six-month severity due treatment gap after March 2021. Evidence: pain within hours, worsening over two weeks, employee health/orthopedics, two steroid injections, MRI showing rotator cuff tears/labral degeneration/severe synovitis/biceps tendinosis, orthopedist noted inflammatory reaction to vaccine, PT documented severe pain and activity limits. Chief SM Corcoran found residual effects past six months despite gap. Petition filed October 26, 2021; entitlement March 23, 2026. Attorney: Kirk Tripp Otto, Siri & Glimstad.","is_death":0,"date_of_death":null,"petition_filed_date":"2021-10-26","case_summary":"On October 26, 2021, Randall S. Blank, M.D., Ph.D., filed a petition alleging that an influenza vaccination administered in his left shoulder on September 23, 2020 caused a left shoulder injury related to vaccine administration. He was a 61-year-old anesthesiologist with no history of left shoulder pain or dysfunction at the time of vaccination.\n\nRespondent did not contest most Table SIRVA elements, but argued that Dr. Blank failed to prove residual effects for more than six months because there was a long treatment gap after March 2021. The medical record showed that he was seen at employee health on October 12, 2020 for shoulder pain that began within hours of vaccination and worsened over two weeks. He continued to report pain with raising his arm, saw orthopedics in December 2020, received a steroid injection, and returned in March 2021 reporting that his pain had come back worse than before. A second steroid injection did not help.\n\nMRI findings included full-thickness tearing of the posterior supraspinatus and anterior infraspinatus, diffuse labral degeneration and tearing, severe glenohumeral synovitis, biceps tendinosis with tenosynovitis, and a probable small Hill-Sachs deformity. The orthopedist described advanced glenohumeral osteoarthrosis with a superimposed inflammatory reaction to the flu vaccine and discussed arthroscopy, but Dr. Blank chose physical therapy. At physical therapy he reported severe shoulder pain after a shot placed too close to the joint and difficulty weightlifting, swimming, and running.\n\nChief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found that the March 2021 MRI, examination findings, planned therapy, and declarations from Dr. Blank and his wife supported residual effects beyond six months despite the gap in shoulder-specific care. Entitlement was granted on March 23, 2026, but damages were left for later proceedings.","is_minor_inferred":0,"is_pediatric_broad":0,"special_master":"Brian H. Corcoran","petitioner_identifier_original":null,"caption_petitioner_name":null,"petitioner_attorney_name":"Kirk Tripp Otto","petitioner_attorney_firm":"Siri & Glimstad, LLP","petitioner_attorney_location":"Richmond, VA","adjudicator_name":null,"caption_people_backfilled_at":null,"attorney_canonical_keys":"|kirk-otto|","firm_canonical_key":"siri-and-glimstad","package_title":"BLANK v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","canonical_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077","plain_text_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077.txt","json_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077.json","source_documents":[{"granule_id":"USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077-0","title":"BLANK v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","docket_text":"PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 03/23/2026) regarding 55 Ruling on Entitlement,, Order on Motion for Ruling on the Record, Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (ppa) Service on parties made.","date_issued":"2026-04-23","pdf_url":"https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077/granules/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077-0/pdf","pdf_bytes":295627,"triage_decision":"keep","triage_reason":"docketText matches keep keyword 'ruling on entitlement'","download_status":"ok","registry_pdf_url":"https://vicp-registry.org/pdf/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077/USCOURTS-cofc-1_21-vv-02077-0"}]}