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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Deemed a Compensable Consequential Injury Stemming from a Prior Physical Injury

The Third Department affirmed the board’s finding that claimant was entitled to workers’ compensation benefits based in part upon posttraumatic stress disorder.  Claimant worked in a facility which housed juveniles who had committed the equivalent of felonies. Claimant was injured trying to control an unruly resident.  Thereafter, claimant, as part of his job, monitored video feeds from the facility and he often observed unruly behavior which reminded him of the incident in which he was injured:

Whether a subsequent disability arose consequentially from an existing compensable injury is a factual question for resolution by the Board, and its determination will not be disturbed when supported by substantial evidence” … . A consequential injury, in turn, is one that “result[s] directly and naturally from claimant’s prior injuries and the disability thereby produced” … . Claimant here testified that he was assigned to monitor video feeds of the facility upon his return to work from his back injury, work that required him to constantly observe the unruly behavior of the residents and reminded him of the initial incident and his injuries. His injuries left him feeling helpless to assist the coworkers he observed dealing with the residents, and he ultimately sought medical assistance after he became enraged and blacked out due to watching numerous incidents where other employees required aid. Claimant was thereafter diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, accompanied by anxiety and depression, and his treating psychologist stated in no uncertain terms that those conditions flowed from the May 2010 incident and the injuries he sustained therein. The Board credited the psychologist’s factually specific opinion … , and the employer submitted no medical evidence to rebut it. Under these circumstances, we find substantial evidence in the record to support the Board’s determination … . Matter of Dowdell v Office of Family & Children Servs., 2014 NY Slip Op 06626, 3rd Dept 10-2-14

 

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