Heckman v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-0063V Filed: July 21, 2017 UNPUBLISHED   PATRICIA HECKMAN,   Special Processing Unit (SPU); Petitioner, Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; v. Causation-In-Fact; Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder Injury Related to SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent.     Amber Diane Wilson, Maglio Christopher & Toale, PA, Washington, DC, for petitioner. Douglas Ross, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent.   RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On January 13, 2017, Patricia Heckman (“petitioner”) 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 that she suffered left shoulder injuries as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine she received on November 12, 2015. Petition at ¶2. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On July 20, 2017, 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 concludes that petitioner suffered a left-side shoulder injury and that the preponderance of the medical evidence indicates that the injury is causally                                                              1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned 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 “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). related to the flu vaccine she received on November 12, 2015. Id. at 7. Respondent further agrees that no other causes for petitioner’s injury have been identified and that petitioner meets the statutory requirements by suffering the condition for more than six months. Id. In view of respondent’s position and the evidence of record, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master