VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00983
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00983
Petitioner: Kristen Wilson-Russell
Filed: 2025-06-12
Decided: 2026-01-21
Vaccine: tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap)
Vaccination date: 2023-01-26
Condition: brachial neuritis
Outcome: entitlement_granted_pending_damages
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
On June 12, 2025, Kristen Wilson-Russell filed a petition alleging shoulder and nerve injury after a Tdap vaccination administered on January 26, 2023. She later amended the petition to proceed only on brachial neuritis.

Respondent conceded entitlement for brachial neuritis, while noting that the concession precluded a separate SIRVA claim. The public ruling states that the Table criteria were satisfied: onset occurred within the required 2-to-28-day window after Tdap vaccination, the clinical diagnosis involved brachial plexopathy, EMG or nerve conduction testing was consistent with the diagnosis, no other condition explained the symptoms, and sequelae lasted more than six months.

On January 21, 2026, Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran found Ms. Wilson-Russell entitled to compensation. Damages remained pending.

Theory of causation field:
Tdap vaccine January 26, 2023 allegedly causing brachial neuritis; adult, exact age not stated. ENTITLEMENT CONCEDED; damages pending. Criteria: onset 2-28 days after Tdap, clinical brachial plexopathy, EMG/NCS support, no better alternative cause, sequelae over six months. SIRVA claim was not pursued after amendment. Chief SM Brian H. Corcoran; petition June 12, 2025; decision January 21, 2026.

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-00983-0
Date issued/filed: 2026-02-20
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 01/21/2026) regarding 17 Ruling on Entitlement Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (nh) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-00983-UNJ Document 21 Filed 02/20/26 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0983V
KRISTEN WILSON-RUSSELL, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, Filed: January 21, 2026
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Laura Levenberg, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Sara DeStefano, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On June 12, 2025, Kristen Wilson-Russell filed a petition for compensation under
the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”), which she amended on January 19, 2026. Petitioner alleges that she
suffered brachial neuritis resulting from a tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis (“Tdap”)
vaccine received on January 26, 2023. Amended Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges
that her symptoms persisted for more than six months and neither Petitioner, nor any
other party, has ever filed any action, or received compensation in the form of an award
or settlement, for Petitioner’s vaccine-related injury. Amended Petition at ¶¶ 14-16. The
case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made
publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or
at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government
Services). This means the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance
with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information,
the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that
the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C.
§ 300aa (2018).

Case 1:25-vv-00983-UNJ Document 21 Filed 02/20/26 Page 2 of 2
On December 19, 2025, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he
concedes that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case for brachial neuritis, but
that this precludes her from establishing a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) claim.3 Id. at 1, 6. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1.
Specifically, Respondent agrees that Petitioner’s injury is consistent with brachial neuritis
as defined by the Vaccine Injury Table in that “petitioner’s brachial neuritis first manifested
between two and twenty-eight days of her receipt of the Tdap vaccine, petitioner received
a clinical diagnosis of brachial plexopathy, the findings of petitioner’s EMG/NCV were
consistent with brachial neuritis, and no other condition or abnormality has been identified
to explain petitioner’s symptoms.” Id. at 6. Respondent further agrees that that Petitioner
suffered sequela of her injury for more than six months, and should be found entitled to
compensation. Id.
In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation for brachial neuritis.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
3 Respondent states that Petitioner cannot establish a Table SIRVA claim due to her brachial neuritis.
Petitioner originally asserted claims for both SIRVA and brachial neuritis. Petition at 1. However, she has
now amended her petition to assert only a brachial neuritis claim. Amended Petition at 1.
2