VICP Registry Case Source Bundle
Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-01275
Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-01275
Petitioner: Susan Cleveland
Filed: 2025-08-01
Decided: 2026-06-11
Vaccine: influenza
Vaccination date: 2023-01-03
Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA)
Outcome: entitlement_granted_pending_damages
Award amount USD: 

AI-assisted case summary:
Susan Cleveland filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) resulting from an influenza vaccine received on January 3, 2023. She stated her injury lasted for more than six months and that she had not received prior compensation for this injury. Respondent conceded that Petitioner is entitled to compensation, agreeing that her injury met the Table criteria for a right-sided SIRVA. Respondent also confirmed the case was timely filed, the vaccine was received in the United States, Petitioner satisfied the statutory severity requirement, and she had not filed a civil action or received other compensation. Based on Respondent's concession and the evidence, Chief Special Master Corcoran found Petitioner entitled to compensation, with damages to be determined.

Theory of causation field:
Table

Public staged source text:

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DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_25-vv-01275-0
Date issued/filed: 2026-07-15
Pages: 2
Docket text: PUBLIC ORDER/RULING (Originally filed: 06/11/2026) regarding 23 Ruling on Entitlement. Signed by Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran. (cr) Service on parties made.
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Case 1:25-vv-01275-UNJ Document 30 Filed 07/15/26 Page 1 of 2
In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-1275V
SUSAN CLEVELAND,
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner,
v. Filed: June 11, 2026
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Leah VaSahnja Durant, Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, Washington, DC, for
Petitioner.
Ryan Daniel Pyles, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On August 1, 2025, Susan Cleveland filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine
administration (“SIRVA”) resulting from an influenza vaccine received on January 3, 2023.
Petition at 1. Petitioner further alleges that her injury lasted for more than six months and
neither Petitioner, nor any other party, has ever received compensation in the form of an
award or settlement for her vaccine-related injury. Petition at ¶¶ 12, 13. 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-01275-UNJ Document 30 Filed 07/15/26 Page 2 of 2
On June 10, 2026, Respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1.
Specifically, Respondent agrees that Petitioner’s alleged injury meets the Table criteria
for a right-sided SIRVA in that “petitioner had no history of pain, inflammation, or
dysfunction of the affected shoulder prior to intramuscular vaccination that would explain
the alleged signs, symptoms, examination findings, and/or diagnostic studies occurring
after vaccine injection; she more likely than not suffered the onset of shoulder pain within
forty-eight hours of vaccine administration; her pain and reduced range of motion were
limited to the shoulder in which the intramuscular vaccine was administered; and there is
no other condition or abnormality present that would explain petitioner’s symptoms.” Id.
at 4. Respondent further agrees that the case was timely filed, the vaccine was received
in the United States, Petitioner has satisfied the statutory severity requirement, and
averred that she has not filed a civil action or received compensation in the form of an
award or settlement for her vaccine-related injury, and therefore compensation is
appropriate. Id. at 5.
In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
2