Veronica Groom v. HHS - Influenza, shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) (2025)

On April 5, 2023, Veronica Groom filed a petition alleging SIRVA after an influenza vaccination administered in her left deltoid on October 6, 2021. The parties fully briefed entitlement and damages.

The record gave a practical shoulder-injury chronology. Five days after vaccination, Ms.

Groom saw a hematology/oncology specialist for unrelated care and the note did not mention shoulder pain. About three weeks after vaccination, she sought care for axial spine and left shoulder pain and related the shoulder symptoms to the flu shot.

By November 15, 2021, left deltoid pain was her main concern and she was referred to physical therapy. She reported excruciating pain the evening of injection, soreness since the shot, and concern that the injection had been too high.

MRI later showed moderate-to-severe chondral thinning, tendinosis, and bursitis. She used topical medication, oral steroids, and physical therapy; by July 2022 bursitis was considered resolved, with residual stiffness and osteoarthritis-related pain.

Chief Special Master Corcoran found onset within forty-eight hours and the remaining SIRVA criteria satisfied. He awarded $60,000.00 for pain and suffering and $93.05 for unreimbursed medical expenses, for a total of $60,093.05, on December 18, 2025.