If you developed significant shoulder pain, limited range of motion, or loss of function after a vaccination, you may have experienced Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration, commonly called SIRVA.

SIRVA claims are handled through the federal National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Recent data from the VICP's Special Processing Unit (SPU) provide valuable insight into how these cases are evaluated and what compensation may look like.

As of July 1, 2024, more than 4,000 SIRVA cases had been resolved through the SPU. Of 4,138 resolved cases, 4,016 resulted in compensation, while 122 were dismissed. The same federal decision reviewing these cases reported that pain-and-suffering awards in reasoned SIRVA decisions ranged from $35,000 to $215,000, with a median award of approximately $85,000.

These numbers do not determine the value of any individual claim. However, they demonstrate how medical evidence, treatment history, recovery time, and the lasting impact of a shoulder injury can affect compensation.

What Is SIRVA?

SIRVA is a shoulder injury that occurs when a vaccine is injected too high or into the wrong area of the shoulder. The injection may affect structures such as the bursa, tendons, or joint capsule, leading to inflammation and other shoulder conditions.

Common SIRVA diagnoses include:

• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder
• Impingement syndrome
• Limited range of motion
• Persistent shoulder pain and weakness

Normal post-vaccination soreness generally improves within a few days. SIRVA symptoms are often more severe and may begin within 48 hours of vaccination. The pain may interfere with sleeping, dressing, driving, working, exercising, or performing ordinary household activities.

What Does the SPU Data Tell Us?

The VICP created the Special Processing Unit to handle groups of vaccine injury cases that involve common legal and medical issues. SIRVA became one of the most frequently processed types of VICP claims.

In the federal decision Yodowitz v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Chief Special Master reviewed SPU data and reported:

• 4,138 SIRVA cases resolved as of July 1, 2024
• 4,016 cases compensated
• 122 cases dismissed
• 235 cases in which a special master issued a reasoned decision determining damages
• Pain-and-suffering awards in those 235 decisions ranging from $35,000 to $215,000
• A median pain-and-suffering award of approximately $85,000

The decision also explained that many cases resolve through a government proffer, stipulation, or negotiated agreement rather than a fully litigated damages hearing.

This distinction matters. A negotiated settlement may include pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages in one lump sum. A reasoned decision, on the other hand, provides a written explanation of how the special master evaluated the evidence and selected an award.

The SPU statistics therefore offer useful context, but they should not be treated as a fixed price list for SIRVA injuries.

How Is a SIRVA Award Calculated?

There is no mathematical formula that automatically determines the value of pain and suffering in a VICP claim. 

Decision-makers commonly consider:

1. Awareness of the Injury

The VICP may consider whether the individual understood the nature and effects of the injury. For an adult who experiences ongoing shoulder pain and functional limitations, awareness is usually not disputed.

2. Severity of Symptoms

Medical records may document pain levels, range-of-motion restrictions, weakness, night pain, and the inability to use the affected arm normally.

More substantial awards often involve:

• Severe or persistent pain
• Moderate-to-severe limitations in movement
• Partial tendon tears or other significant imaging findings
• Failed conservative treatment
• Surgical intervention
• Repeated injections or extensive physical therapy

3. Duration of the Injury

How long the symptoms lasted is also important. Records showing continuing pain, recurring symptoms, permanent restrictions, or a need for future care can support a higher award.

4. Treatment and Recovery

The type and amount of treatment help demonstrate the seriousness of the injury. Relevant evidence may include:

• Emergency or urgent-care visits
• Orthopedic evaluations
• MRI or other imaging
• Cortisone injections
• Physical therapy
• Surgery
• Prescription pain medication
• Follow-up appointments
• Work restrictions

However, the amount of treatment alone does not determine value. The decision-maker considers the full record, including how treatment affected the person and whether it improved the condition.

5. Effect on Daily Life and Employment

A strong claim explains more than the diagnosis. It documents how the injury changed a person's life.

SIRVA may make it difficult to:

• Lift or carry objects
• Reach overhead
• Sleep comfortably
• Drive
• Work at a computer
• Perform manual labor
• Care for children or family members
• Participate in sports or hobbies

Lost income may also be compensable when supported by appropriate records.

What Types of Compensation Are Available?

Under the VICP, compensation may include:

• Past and future unreimbursed medical expenses
• Lost wages or reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

The VICP generally limits compensation for actual and projected pain and suffering and emotional distress to $250,000. Medical expenses and lost earnings are separate categories and are not included in that pain-and-suffering cap, although they must be supported and proven.

The program also has eligibility requirements. For a SIRVA claim to qualify,the injury must last more than six months or result in death. The vaccine must also be covered by the VICP, and the claim must satisfy the applicable timing and medical requirements.

Why Timing and Documentation Matter

A VICP injury claim generally must be filed within three years after the first symptom or manifestation of the vaccine-related injury. For SIRVA, the relevant symptom may be the first shoulder pain, limited movement, or other shoulder problem following vaccination: not necessarily the date a doctor first uses the term “SIRVA.”

The deadline can be strictly applied. Waiting to investigate a claim may result in the loss of the right to seek compensation.

Important documents may include:

• Vaccination records
• Medical records from before the vaccination
• The first medical visit after symptoms began
• Orthopedic and physical therapy records
• MRI or other imaging reports
• Employment and wage records
• Receipts for unreimbursed expenses
• Personal statements describing pain and limitations
• Statements from family members, coworkers, or others who observed the injury

How an Experienced Vaccine Injury Lawyer Can Help

VICP claims are filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims and involve detailed procedural and evidentiary requirements. An experienced vaccine injury lawyer can help by:

• Evaluating whether the claim may satisfy VICP requirements
• Identifying the applicable Vaccine Injury Table criteria
• Confirming the filing deadline
• Gathering and organizing medical records
• Addressing preexisting conditions or alternative causes
• Developing evidence of pain, disability, and functional limitations
• Calculating medical expenses and lost income
• Comparing the claim with relevant VICP decisions
• Responding to government challenges
• Negotiating a fair resolution or presenting evidence to a special master

The SPU's large body of resolved cases can provide useful comparisons, but case valuation requires careful analysis. A claim should not be evaluated solely by looking at the diagnosis or the number of physical therapy visits. The complete course of the injury matters.

Braden Blumenstiel Legal Advocates Group, LLC Can Help

SIRVA can affect far more than a person's shoulder. Persistent pain may interfere with work, sleep, family responsibilities, and the activities that once made daily life enjoyable.

At Braden Blumenstiel Legal Advocates Group, LLC, our focus is on Righting Wrongs and Protecting Futures. We advocate for individuals and families who need knowledgeable legal guidance after suffering a vaccine-related injury.

If you believe you developed SIRVA after vaccination, contact our SIRVA team to discuss your situation. The sooner your claim is reviewed, the sooner important deadlines and evidence can be addressed.

This article provides general information and is not legal or medical advice. Past VICP awards do not guarantee a particular result. Eligibility and compensation depend on the facts, medical evidence, applicable law, and the requirements of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Sources and Further Reading

• Yodowitz v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Decision Awarding Damages
• Health Resources and Services Administration: Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
• HRSA: What You Need to Know About the VICP
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims: Vaccine Claims and Office of Special Masters
• 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15: Compensation