Thacker v. Secretary of Health and Human Services

In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 19-627V Filed: October 9, 2019 UNPUBLISHED TYLER ANTHONY THACKER, Petitioner, Special Processing Unit (SPU); v. Ruling on Entitlement; Concession; Table Injury; Human Papillomavirus SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND (HPV) Vaccine; Vasovagal Syncope HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Henry Domenick Acciani, O’Connor, Acciani & Levy, Cincinnati, OH, for petitioner. Mallori Browne Openchowski, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT 1 Corcoran, Chief Special Master: On April 29, 2019, 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 he suffered vasovagal syncope as the result of a human papilloma quadrivalent virus (HPV) vaccination administered on April 30, 2016. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. 1 The undersigned intends to post this ruling on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website. 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, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, undersigned is required to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website in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). 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). On October 8, 2019, 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 indicates that petitioner’s onset of vasovagal syncope occurred within one hour of his HPV vaccination and there is no other apparent alternative cause. Id. at 3-4. Respondent further agrees that petitioner experienced the residual effects of his condition for more than six months and has met the statutory requirements for entitlement to compensation under the Vaccine Act. Id at 4. 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/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master 2