Prawdzik v. Board of Trustees of the Homer Township Fire Protection District Pension Fund

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Appellate Court Date: 2019.07.02
14:22:58 -05'00'
Prawdzik v. Board of Trustees of the Homer Township Fire Protection District
Pension Fund, 2019 IL App (3d) 170024
Appellate Court GREGORY PRAWDZIK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. THE BOARD OF
Caption TRUSTEES OF THE HOMER TOWNSHIP FIRE PROTECTION
DISTRICT PENSION FUND, Defendant-Appellee.
District & No. Third District
Docket No. 3-17-0024
Opinion filed upon
denial of rehearing March 27, 2019
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Will County, No. 16-MR-1067; the
Review Hon. John C. Anderson, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Reversed; cause remanded.
Counsel on Thomas S. Radja Jr., of Collins & Radja, of Naperville, for appellant.
Appeal
Jeffrey A. Goodloe, of Puchalski Goodloe Marzullo, LLP, of
Northbrook, for appellee.
Panel JUSTICE HOLDRIDGE delivered the judgment of the court, with
opinion.
Justice McDade concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Presiding Justice Schmidt dissented, with opinion.
OPINION
¶1 The plaintiff, Gregory Prawdzik (Prawdzik), a former firefighter, brought an action for
administrative review to the circuit court of Will County appealing the decision of the
defendant, the Board of Trustees of the Homer Township Fire Protection District Pension Fund
(Board), denying Prawdzik a “line of duty” disability pension. The circuit court affirmed the
Board’s decision. This appeal followed.
¶2 FACTS
¶3 Prawdzik was employed as a firefighter for the Homer Township Fire Protection District
Fire Department (District) starting on May 8, 2006. He also served in the Air National Guard.
¶4 In 2008-09, during his employment as a firefighter, Prawdzik was deployed for military
duty in Afghanistan for a 10-month period. He was deployed to the eastern border of
Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, where he served as a combat medic and combat
advisor. The area where Prawdzik served was a thoroughfare for Taliban insurgents. Prawdzik
trained, mentored, and advised a medical platoon of a battalion-sized element of the Afghan
army. He accompanied his Afghan unit on combat missions approximately three to four times
per week. Missions could last anywhere from several hours to one week. Prawdzik provided
medical treatment to troops who later died.
¶5 Prawdzik testified that he encountered many life-threatening incidents while he was in
Afghanistan. While on combat missions, Prawdzik was shot at approximately 10 times.
Moreover, he testified that he experienced approximately 10 rocket attacks or improvised
explosive device (IED) attacks. On one occasion, insurgents fired rockets at the base where
Prawdzik was stationed. Prawdzik rolled out of his bunk and laid on the floor. As the rockets
kept coming, someone yelled for everyone to get to the bunkers. Prawdzik thought he was
going to die and was thinking about his wife and son and how they would get along without
him. The rockets hit another barracks approximately 100 meters from Prawdzik’s tent, killing
two contractors.
¶6 On another occasion, a rocket attack occurred while Prawdzik was in the “chow hall.”
Prawdzik testified that the door bowed in, all the lights shut off, the emergency power came on,
and the room was filled with dust. He felt that his life was in jeopardy. Prawdzik testified that,
on another occasion, he had to “go with Afghans and interpreters through the kill zone onto the
other side of the kill zone” to try to find his partner who had become separated from the rest of
the unit while the unit was on patrol. During that incident, Prawdzik was under
rocket-propelled grenade fire.
¶7 Prawdzik testified that he also experienced IED attacks. On one occasion, Prawdzik was
driving in a convoy of United States military mine resistant ambush proof (MRAP) vehicles
when the convoy was struck by an IED. Prawdzik heard a loud boom and “everything went
black.” He was thrown to the back of the vehicle and hit his head. The blow rendered him
unconscious. When he came to, his vehicle was flipped upside down in a crater. Prawdzik
testified that he was trapped upside down in the vehicle by a 400-pound door and he was
unable to get out for over an hour. During that time, Prawdzik was afraid for his life and in fear
of being attacked before he could be rescued. He suffered a head injury and was diagnosed
with a traumatic brain injury.
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¶8 Prawdzik testified that, while he was in Afghanistan, he felt as though his life was under
constant threat and that he was going to die there. He did not trust the Afghans he patrolled
with because he suspected that “half of them were Taliban,” and there were regular reports of
Afghan military or police “turning on their U.S. counterparts and shooting them.” While he
was getting haircuts in Afghanistan, he feared that the Afghan barber might kill him with a pair
of scissors.
¶9 Prawdzik returned from Afghanistan and resumed working as a firefighter for the District
on November 1, 2009. After he returned from Afghanistan, Prawdzik suffered from a variety
of symptoms that he did not have before his deployment. For example, Prawdzik suffered from
migraine headaches, panic attacks, tightness in his chest, shortness of breath, nausea, blurred
(or “tunnel”) vision, irritability, sadness, emotional numbness, poor concentration, insomnia,
and feelings of being detached from family and friends. Prawdzik acknowledged that these
were symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).1 He sought treatment through the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). On February 9, 2010, Prawdzik showed signs of PTSD
during a mental health screen, and he reported the traumatic experiences he had experienced in
Afghanistan. On March 11, 2010, Dr. Thomas Benton of the VA diagnosed Prawdzik with
PTSD, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and depressed mood. Dr. Benton opined that
Prawdzik’s PTSD symptoms (such as mild depression, passive suicidal ideation, emotional
blunting, and irritability leading to verbal altercations and road rage) had increased in
frequency and intensity due to “the post-military stressors of unstructured time and frustration
over continuous Iraq and Afghanistan war news.”
¶ 10 On March 15, 2010, Prawdzik underwent a psychiatric assessment at the VA due to
“irritability with explosive outbursts.” He was receiving mental health treatment from a private
psychologist at that time. Prawdzik reported that he was concerned that his mental health
issues might jeopardize his career with the District. The following day, Prawdzik underwent a
neurological consultation during which he reported symptoms of PTSD, including sleep
disturbances. The examiner opined that Prawdzik’s sleep disturbances and current life
stressors “may be contributing to his current cognitive inefficiencies” and that these
impairments represented a “change” and a “relative reduction” in Prawdzik’s abilities. The
consult recommended mental health treatment.
¶ 11 The VA determined that Prawdzik’s PTSD was related to his military service and awarded
him VA disability benefits for PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and tinnitus. Prawdzik attended
group therapy for PTSD on June 1, 2010, but did not continue with the therapy in 2010.
1
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs after an individual has experienced a traumatic event.
More specifically, it is a psychological response to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct
personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury or threat to
one’s physical integrity or witnessing an event that involves death, injury, or threat to the physical
integrity of another person. The person’s response to the event must involve intense fear, helplessness,
or horror. Characteristic symptoms resulting from the exposure to the trauma include persistent
re-experiencing of the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness and persistent increased
symptoms of arousal. Associated features include depressed mood; anxiety and irritability; sleep
disturbance; difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response; efforts to avoid
activities, places, or people that arouse recollection of the trauma; feeling detached from others;
markedly diminished interest or participation in activities; and recurrent and intrusive distressing
recollection of the events.
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¶ 12 Prawdzik testified that he experienced panic attacks and related symptoms while on duty as
a firefighter in 2009 and 2010 but that he did not report them to the District because he was
hoping the situation would “resolve and take care of itself.” He also experienced panic attacks
when he was not on duty. While attempting to complete a driving program at work, Prawdzik
was “having issues with getting in the vehicles and driving the larger vehicles.” He testified
that the MRAP vehicles he drove in Afghanistan were built similarly to fire department trucks
in that they had the same chassis that a fire engine has, as well as the same steering column,
transmission, brake system, and an identical inside cab area.
¶ 13 On July 13, 2011, Prawdzik informed the district that he suffered from PTSD. He discussed
some of his experiences in Afghanistan and reported that one of the things that bothered him at
work was driving the fire engine and other trucks, noting the similarity between these trucks
and military vehicles. He attributed this problem to PTSD. Approximately one month later,
Prawdzik met with his supervisors and discussed traumatic events that had occurred during his
deployment. The District placed Prawdzik on administrative leave, ordered a fitness for duty
evaluation, and required Prawdzik to complete a driving program.
¶ 14 On August 23, 2011, Dr. Tracy Rogers performed a fitness for duty evaluation for
Prawdzik. Dr. Rogers noted that Prawdzik did not feel comfortable driving the fire engine or
trucks because of the similarity between those vehicles and the military vehicles he drove in
Afghanistan and that sitting in the cab of the fire trucks “triggers [his] PTSD symptoms.” Dr.
Rogers diagnosed Prawdzik with PTSD and found him conditionally fit for duty. Dr. Rogers
opined that, although Prawdzik had had PTSD for the past two years, his symptoms did not
appear to have affected his work performance or overall functioning. However, Dr. Rogers
acknowledged that certain thoughts about trauma caused Prawdzik stress and “exacerbated
[his] symptoms” and that Prawdzik was avoiding driving the fire engine and trucks because the
cabs of those vehicles reminded him of the military vehicles that he drove while deployed,
including the vehicle he was trapped in after receiving a head injury.
¶ 15 On August 6, 2013, Prawdzik sought mental health treatment form the VA and reported
increased PTSD symptoms, including anxiety, nightmares, recurrent thoughts of trauma,
feeling watchful and getting easily startled, and feelings of numbness and detachment. He
reported that his recent increase in anxiety symptoms was triggered mostly by a stressful work
environment. Specifically, he felt scrutinized at work because the District had a new chief who
was writing people up, demoting them, and firing them. He also stated that his PTSD
symptoms were exacerbated by driving the rigs at work, although he had passed the driving
program ordered by his supervisors. The social worker who evaluated Prawdzik opined that
PTSD symptoms may be perpetuated by the “trauma of war” and that Prawdzik’s symptoms
were impacted by “occupational stress” and “parenting stress.”
¶ 16 On September 3, 2013, Prawdzik began therapy for PTSD and marital issues. During a
September 11, 2013, session, he reported that he was “triggered at work when driving large
trucks or hearing loud noises” and that he tended to be hypervigilant and “extra worried about
safety issues.” He discussed the many combat traumas he had experienced. On September 27,
2013, Dr. Pradipkumar Desai examined Prawdzik at the VA for anxiety and depression. Dr.
Desai noted that Prawdzik’s reduction in alcohol consumption had “significantly” reduced his
PTSD symptoms, but also noted that Prawdzik’s mood was sad and anxious. Dr. Desai
diagnosed Prawdzik with PTSD exacerbated by physical stressors. Prawdzik testified that the
stress and anxiety he was treated for in 2013 were a continuation of the PTSD symptoms he
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had been experiencing since 2009, that his PTSD was “from Afghanistan,” and that his doctors
had told him that he would have these symptoms for the rest of his life.
¶ 17 On June 20 and September 20, 2014, Dr. Desai examined Prawdzik again for PTSD.
During both sessions, Prawdzik presented with depressed mood and reported that he was
suffering from “nightmares and flashbacks.” During his August 18, 2014, District physical,
Prawdzik reported that he had experienced weakness and fatigue, as well as persistent anxiety,
lack of concentration, and insomnia during the past few months. He later testified that the
effects of the war were taking a toll on his mental health in 2013 and 2014.
¶ 18 On November 7, 2014, Prawdzik was working full duties as a firefighter when he was
dispatched to an emergency call. On the way back from the call, the fire truck Prawdzik was
driving was shifting roughly between gears. As Prawdzik tried to check the pump shift lever to
fix the problem, he inadvertently hit the power switch, shutting off all the power in the vehicle
while the vehicle was traveling at approximately 45 miles per hour. This reminded Prawdzik of
his experience in Afghanistan when his vehicle was hit by an IED, and it gave Prawdzik the
feeling that he was going to die. Prawdzik testified that he had an anxiety attack after the
November 7, 2014, incident and that his PTSD symptoms of anxiety got progressively worse
thereafter. For example, Prawdzik stated that, over the next few days, he began to feel tightness
in his chest, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and was having trouble concentrating.
However, Prawdzik admitted that he may have been having increasing anxiety prior to the
November 7, 2014, incident. Prawdzik did not report having a panic attack on November 7,
2014.
¶ 19 On November 16, 2014 (two duty shift days after the November 7, 2014, incident),
Prawdzik reported the issues he was having with PTSD and asked to go home. He was placed
on modified duty and never returned to full, unrestricted duty thereafter. During the three years
prior to the November 7, 2014, incident, Prawdzik had been able to perform his full,
unrestricted firefighter duties despite his PTSD.
¶ 20 Prawdzik underwent another fitness for duty evaluation on November 21, 2014. At that
time, Prawdzik reported experiencing anxiety symptoms (including a panic attack that
occurred during the November 7, 2014, work incident), but he denied experiencing any
symptoms of PTSD aside from generalized anxiety. The evaluator (Dr. Wasyliw) noted that
Prawdzik did not associate his anxiety symptoms with his “service-connected” experiences,
and that Prawdzik had problems on the job only when driving trucks reminiscent of those he
drove in Afghanistan. Dr. Wasyliw concluded that Prawdzik was unable to drive fire trucks
due to his anxiety issues. Because it is a necessary requirement of Prawdzik’s employment that
he be able to drive all Department vehicles at any time, Dr. Wasyliw found Prawdzik unfit for
duty. Dr. Wasyliw opined that the claimant was unfit for duty due to “generalized anxiety
disorder with residual PTSD symptoms and a major depressive episode.” Dr. Wasyliw noted
that Prawdzik had been experiencing increasing “generalized” anxiety for a few days in early
November, which “became worse” after the November 7, 2014, work incident, when the
power went out in the truck the claimant was driving. Dr. Wasyliw opined that Prawdzik’s
anxiety disorder was “more widespread” at the time of his November 21, 2014, evaluation than
it had been when the claimant underwent a previous fitness for duty evaluation in 2011.
Although Dr. Wasyliw “could not uncover any specific precipitants or stressors” that triggered
Prawdzik’s increased anxiety during the week prior to the November 7, 2014, incident, Dr.
Wasyliw noted that (1) Prawdzik had “report[ed] a number of long standing physical
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symptoms that may have a medical basis” and (2) Prawdzik had recently begun taking a new
medication for a urinary condition and it “needs to be assessed” whether the new medication
was contributing to Prawdzik’s anxiety and depression.
¶ 21 Thereafter, Prawdzik continued to undergo mental health treatment for PTSD. His mental
health records indicate that he continued to experience PTSD symptoms, including panic
attacks while driving and during other situations. A May 2015 fitness for duty evaluation
concluded that Prawdzik’s panic attacks could occur at any time and were not related to any
specific situation. On April 17, 2015, Prawdzik reported increased panic attacks and was
placed on administrative leave. A June 3, 2015, PTSD assessment at the VA concluded that
(1) Prawdzik’s job duties as a firefighter resembled his service-related traumas, which have
“contributed to his PTSD symptoms relapse,” and (2) it is more likely than not that Prawdzik’s
“current level of social and occupational impairment due to his PTSD symptoms remains
similar to that reported on his last PTSD evaluation dated March 11, 2010.”
¶ 22 On June 18, 2015, Prawdzik filed an application for disability benefits with the Board.
Pursuant to section 4-112 of the Illinois Pension Code (Code) (40 ILCS 5/4-112 (West 2014)),
the Board had Prawdzik evaluated by three physicians of its choosing: Dr. Robert Reff, Dr.
Stevan Weine, and Dr. Cathy Frank.
¶ 23 Dr. Reff opined that Prawdzik suffers from generalized anxiety disorder with residual
post-traumatic symptoms. Dr. Reff concluded that this condition prevented Prawdzik from
functioning as a firefighter because it limits his ability to drive large vehicles, including fire
trucks and engines. Although Dr. Reff acknowledged that Prawdzik’s preexisting PTSD and
anxiety disorder was caused by his combat experiences in Afghanistan, he opined that
Prawdzik’s disability from PTSD was, at least in part, the result of his firefighter duties. Dr.
Reff explained:
“It is my opinion that Mr. Prawdzik suffers from a disability resulting from an act of
duty. After completing the sixth month Corrective Plan established by Dr. Rogers in
September 2011, it appears as if Mr. Prawdzik was able to perform adequately as a
firefighter/paramedic, including driving as required. It was not until [the November 7,
2014, incident] that Mr. Prawdzik experienced performance limiting anxiety again. ***
Mr. Prawdzik’s current episode would be considered an aggravation of his pre-existing
psychiatric condition, more likely than not, caused by the incident that occurred on
November 7, 2014.”
Dr. Reff further opined that Prawdzik’s current disability was “permanent” based upon the
length of time that Prawdzik had suffered some degree of symptoms and “the significance of
symptoms he suffered following the [November 7, 2014] incident.”
¶ 24 Dr. Weine opined that Prawdzik was disabled and suffered from chronic PTSD, recurrent
major depression, and isolated traumatic stress symptoms. Dr. Weine concluded that, over
time, Prawdzik’s PTSD symptoms had diminished to the point where he no longer meets the
formal diagnostic criteria for PTSD, but he continues to suffer from generalized anxiety
disorder and major depressive disorder. Dr. Weine opined that (1) “the persistence and
worsening” of Prawdzik’s disorders was due to his “exposure to stress as a firefighter/EMS”
and (2) “[Prawdzik’s] conditions were initially caused by his combat exposure in Afghanistan
but were exacerbated by the stress of firefighter work.”
¶ 25 Dr. Frank opined that Prawdzik’s PTSD prevented him from driving firefighting vehicles,
which was an essential part of his job. She concluded that Prawdzik’s exposure to trauma on
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the job “continues to aggravate his PTSD causing anxiety, hypervigilance, insomnia, and panic
attacks,” and “as long as [Prawdzik] continues to drive the fire fighting/paramedic vehicles
required for his employment, he will continue to have aggravation of his PTSD.” However, Dr.
Frank opined that it was Prawdzik’s combat exposure, and not any incident or trauma in his
employment, that caused his PTSD and major depressive disorder. According to Dr. Frank,
“[c]ues” from Prawdzik’s employment (such as accidentally turning off the power while
driving a fire engine on November 7, 2014, or driving work-related vehicles generally) “may
aggravate his PTSD at times, but are not the cause of this disorder.”
¶ 26 The Board issued a written order granting Prawdzik a “non-duty” disability pension
pursuant to section 4-111 of the Code but denying him a “line of duty” disability pension
pursuant to section 4-110. The Board found that Prawdzik was entitled to a “non-duty”
disability pension because he was “mentally permanently disabled for service in the fire
service” as a result of the “sickness” of PTSD.
¶ 27 However, the Board denied Prawdzik a “line of duty” disability pension because it found
that the disabling sickness (i.e., Prawdzik’s PTSD) was not “incurred in and did not result from
the performance of an act of duty or the cumulative effects acts of duty.” In support of this
finding, the Board relied upon Dr. Frank’s opinion and other evidence purportedly suggesting
that Prawdzik’s PTSD was not “caused by” the November 7, 2014, work incident or by
Prawdzik’s general firefighting duties. The Board noted that several doctors had diagnosed
Prawdzik with PTSD years before the November 2014 incident and had linked the etiology of
Prawdzik’s PTSD with the traumatic experiences he suffered in Afghanistan. The Board
further noted that the claimant had experienced symptoms of PTSD, including panic attacks,
both before and after the November 2014, incident, and that Dr. Wasyliw opined in 2015 that
the claimant’s panic attacks “could occur at any time” and “were not related to any specific
situation.”2 Moreover, the Board stressed that Prawdzik “was already experiencing increased
anxiety in the weeks leading up to the November 7, 2014, incident,” and it cited Dr. Wasyliw’s
inability to “uncover any specific precipitants or stressors” associated with that increased
anxiety. Relying on Dr. Frank’s opinion, the Board found that the November 7, 2014, incident
had merely triggered symptoms of Prawdzik’s preexisting PTSD but did not cause his PTSD.
¶ 28 The Board also found that there was no evidence to support Prawdzik’s claim that his
disabling PTSD was caused by his performance of “general firefighting/EMS duties.” The
Board noted that Prawdzik was always able to perform general firefighting and EMS duties
(including fire rescue, fire suppression, and EMS duties), “albeit with driving restrictions,”
both before and after the November 7, 2014, incident. The Board also rejected any such claim
as a matter of law. Relying upon our appellate court’s decision in Graves v. Pontiac
Firefighters’ Pension Board, 281 Ill. App. 3d 508, 515 (1996), the Board ruled that, even if
there were evidence to support Prawdzik’s claim that general firefighting and EMS duties
caused his PTSD, the claim would fail because “stress or depression resulting from general
employment functions inherent in the occupation and common to all firefighters is not the
equivalent of the specific acts of duty contemplated by section 4-110” of the Code.
2
The Board acknowledged that, during his November 2014 fitness for duty evaluation, Prawdzik
denied almost all symptoms of PTSD. However, the Board found these denials to be “false in light of
the record.”
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¶ 29 The Board concluded that the “underlying cause” of the claimant’s disabling PTSD was
“external to, and independent of, any specific act of duty or to the cumulative effects of acts of
duty.” It denied Prawdzik’s claim for a “line of duty” pension on that basis.
¶ 30 Prawdzik filed a complaint for administrative review of the Board’s decision in the circuit
court of Will County. The circuit court affirmed the Board’s decision. In its written order, the
circuit court stated that, “[h]ad the [court] been a member of the administrative board, the
[court] might have reached a different conclusion.” However, the circuit court found that,
“regardless of which standard of review is applied, the Court must find that the record does not
justify reversal.”
¶ 31 This appeal followed.
¶ 32 ANALYSIS
¶ 33 Prawdzik appeals the Board’s denial of a line of duty disability pension. Before addressing
the issues raised by Prawdzik, we note that Prawdzik’s brief on appeal does not comply with
the requirements of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 342(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 2005). That rule provides,
in relevant part, that
“[t]he appellant’s brief shall include, as an appendix, *** a copy of the judgment
appealed from, [and] any opinion, memorandum, or findings of fact filed or entered by
the trial judge or by any administrative agency or its officers. (Emphasis added.) Ill. S.
Ct. R. 342(a) (eff. Jan. 1, 2005).
Although Prawdzik included a copy of the circuit court’s order in his appendix, he failed to
include a copy of the Board’s decision, in violation of Rule 342(a). Moreover, the table of
contents to the record on appeal included in Prawdzik’s appendix does not state the names of
all witnesses and the pages on which their testimony begins, as required by Rule 342(a).
¶ 34 When a brief or appendix fails to follow the requirements set forth in Rule 342(a), we may
dismiss the appeal. Perez v. Chicago Park District, 2016 IL App (1st) 153101, ¶ 8. We
admonish Prawdzik’s counsel that our supreme court’s rules are not advisory suggestions but
mandatory rules that must be followed. In re Marriage of Hluska, 2011 IL App (1st) 092636,
¶ 57. Because the parties included citations to the relevant record materials in their briefs on
appeal, Prawdzik’s violation of Rule 342(a) has not precluded meaningful review of the
Board’s decision in this case. Accordingly, although we have the discretion to dismiss this
appeal, we elect to address the issues Prawdzik raises on their merit. However, we admonish
Prawdzik’s counsel, and all appellants, to ensure that their briefs on appeal are in full
compliance with Rule 342(a).
¶ 35 Turning to the merits, we begin by identifying the standards of review governing our
analysis. We review the Board’s decision, not the circuit court’s determination. Village of Oak
Park v. Village of Oak Park Firefighters Pension Board, 362 Ill. App. 3d 357, 365 (2005). The
factual findings of an administrative agency are deemed prima facie true and correct (735
ILCS 5/3-110 (West 2016)) and may be reversed only if they are against the manifest weight of
the evidence (Hammond v. Firefighters’ Pension Fund, 369 Ill. App. 3d 294, 307 (2006)).
Accordingly, we review the Board’s findings of fact regarding the nature of the plaintiff’s
emotional condition and its cause deferentially and will overturn such findings only if they are
against the manifest weight of the evidence. Id.
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¶ 36 An agency’s decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite
conclusion is clearly evident. Carrillo v. Park Ridge Firefighters’ Pension Fund, 2014 IL App
(1st) 130656, ¶ 21. The mere fact that an opposite conclusion is reasonable or that the
reviewing court might have ruled differently will not justify reversal of the Board’s decision.
Robbins v. Board of Trustees of the Carbondale Police Pension Fund, 177 Ill. 2d 533, 538
(1997); Carrillo, 2014 IL App (1st) 130656, ¶ 21. If the record contains evidence supporting
the agency’s decision, the decision should generally be affirmed. Marconi v. Chicago Heights
Police Pension Board, 225 Ill. 2d 497, 534 (2006); Robbins, 177 Ill. 2d at 538. It is particularly
within the Board’s province to accord weight to the evidence, resolve conflicts presented by
the evidence, and determine the credibility of witnesses. Peterson v. Board of Trustees of the
Firemen’s Pension Fund, 54 Ill. 2d 260, 263 (1973); Evert v. Board of Trustees of the Fire
Fighters’ Pension Fund, 180 Ill. App. 3d 656, 660 (1989). A reviewing court may not reweigh
the evidence or make an independent determination of the facts. Hoffman v. Orland
Firefighters’ Pension Board, 2012 IL App (1st) 112120981, ¶ 18.
¶ 37 However, the deference we afford the Board’s decision is “not boundless.” Wade v. City of
North Chicago Police Pension Board, 226 Ill. 2d 485, 507 (2007); see also Scepurek v. Board
of Trustees of the Northbrook Firefighters’ Pension Fund, 2014 IL App (1st) 131066, ¶ 26;
Bowlin v. Murphysboro Firefighters Pension Board of Trustees, 368 Ill. App. 3d 205, 210-12,
(2006) (“our review cannot amount to a rubber stamp of the proceedings below”). “ ‘Even
when the decision is supported by some evidence, which if undisputed would sustain the
administrative finding, it is not sufficient if upon consideration of all the evidence the finding
is against the manifest weight.’ ” Scepurek, 2014 IL App (1st) 131066, ¶ 26 (quoting Bowlin,
368 Ill. App. 3d at 211-12).
¶ 38 “[W]hether the facts, as found by the Board, satisfy the standard for awarding a
line-of-duty disability pension” is a mixed question of law and fact subject to the clearly
erroneous standard of review. Hammond, 369 Ill. App. 3d at 307. This is a less deferential
standard than the manifest weight of the evidence standard, yet still “significantly deferential.”
(Internal quotation marks omitted.) Carrillo, 2014 IL App (1st) 130656, ¶ 21. Under this
standard, we should affirm the Board’s decision unless, after reviewing the entire record, we
are left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed. Hammond, 369
Ill. App. 3d at 307; Carrillo, 2014 IL App (1st) 130656, ¶ 21. Pure questions of law (such as
the proper interpretation of a statute) are reviewed de novo. Robbins, 177 Ill. 2d at 538; Village
of Oak Park, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 365.
¶ 39 The section of the Code addressing line of duty disability pensions provides, in relevant
part:
“If a firefighter, as the result of sickness, accident or injury incurred in or resulting
from the performance of an act of duty or from the cumulative effects of acts of duty, is
found, pursuant to Section 4-112, to be physically or mentally permanently disabled for
service in the fire department, so as to render necessary his or her being placed on
disability pension, the firefighter shall be entitled to a [line of duty] disability pension
***.” (Emphasis added.) 40 ILCS 5/4-110 (West 2014).
Section 6-110 of the Code (40 ILCS 5/6-110 (West 2014)) defines “act of duty” as:
“Any act imposed on an active fireman by the ordinances of a city, or by the rules or
regulations of its fire department, or any act performed by an active fireman while on
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duty, having for its direct purpose the saving of the life or property of another person.”
40 ILCS 5/6-110 (West 2014).3
¶ 40 To recover a line of duty disability pension, a claimant need not prove that his job duties
were the “sole or even the primary cause” of his disability”; rather, it is sufficient that an act of
duty was an “aggravating, contributing or exacerbating factor” in the ensuing disability.
Edwards v. Addison Fire Protection District Firefighters’ Pension Fund, 2013 IL App (2d)
121262, ¶ 32; see also Village of Oak Park, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 371. The claimant must only
prove that the duty-related injury is a “causative factor contributing to the claimant’s
disability.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Scepurek, 2014 IL App (1st) 131066, ¶ 27; see
also Carrillo, 2014 IL App (1st) 130656, ¶ 23. “There is no requirement that the duty-related
incident be the originating or primary cause of injury, although a sufficient nexus between the
injury and the performance of the duty must exist.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.)
Scepurek, 2014 IL App (1st) 131066, ¶ 27. Accordingly, “ ‘[a] disability pension may be based
upon the line-of-duty aggravation of a preexisting condition.’ ” Id. (quoting Wade, 226 Ill. 2d
at 505); see also Carrillo, 2014 IL App (1st) 130656, ¶ 23.
¶ 41 In this case, two of the three physicians chosen by the Board (Drs. Reff and Weine)
expressly opined that Prawdzik’s work duties, including the November 7, 2014, work incident,
aggravated or exacerbated Prawdzik’s preexisting psychological conditions, resulting in
Prawdzik’s disability (i.e., his inability to continue working as a firefighter). Dr. Reff opined
that Prawdzik’s disability was caused by an “act of duty” (specifically, the November 7, 2014,
work incident). Similarly, although Dr. Weine acknowledged that Prawdzik’s PTSD was
initially caused by his combat exposure, he opined that “the persistence and worsening” of
Prawdzik’s disabling psychological disorders was due to his “exposure to stress as a
firefighter/EMS.”4
¶ 42 Although the third physician chosen by the Board, Dr. Frank, did not explicitly opine that
Prawdzik’s disability was caused in whole or in part by the November 7, 2014, incident, she
acknowledged that driving fire trucks “aggravated” Prawdzik’s PTSD, which was the cause of
his disability. Dr. Frank’s opinion focuses primarily on the “cause” of Prawdzik’s PTSD. She
concludes that Prawdzik’s “combat exposure, and not any incident or trauma in his
employment with [the District] is the cause of his PTSD.” However, this means only that, in
Dr. Frank’s opinion, Prawdzik’s PTSD originated from his combat exposure. Dr. Frank did not
deny that certain acts of duty connected to Prawdzik’s employment aggravated or exacerbated
Prawdzik’s PTSD in a manner that contributed to Prawdzik’s current disability. To the
3
This provision appears in the Code section governing municipalities of 500,000 people or more.
There is no definition of “act of duty” in the section of the Code applying to firefighters in
municipalities with populations of 500,000 and under. However, our appellate court has held that
section 6-110’s definition “applies equally to all firefighters” in Illinois. Mabie v. Village of
Schaumburg, 364 Ill. App. 3d 756, 759 (2006); Jensen v. East Dundee Fire Protection District
Firefighters’ Pension Fund Board of Trustees, 362 Ill. App. 3d 197, 204 (2005).
4
Dr. Weine opined that Prawdzik had previously suffered from PTSD but “no longer me[t] the
formal diagnostic criteria for PTSD” at the time Dr. Weine issued his IME report in November 2015.
However, Dr. Weine opined that (1) Prawdzik continued to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder,
major depressive disorder, and “isolate traumatic stress symptoms,” all of which were initially caused
by Prawdzik’s combat exposure in Afghanistan but “were exacerbated by the stress of firefighter
work,” and (2) these conditions were the cause of Prawdzik’s disability.
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contrary, Dr. Frank acknowledged that the exposure to trauma on the job “continue[d] to
aggravate [Prawdzik’s] PTSD causing anxiety, hypervigilance, insomnia, and panic attacks”
and that Prawdzik “will continue to have aggravation of his PTSD” as long as he continues to
drive the firefighting vehicles required for his employment. Accordingly, Dr. Frank did not
deny (and, in fact, appeared to admit) that the aggravated PTSD symptoms that disabled
Prawdzik from working were triggered by the performance Prawdzik’s essential job duties.5
¶ 43 Further, Prawdzik testified that his PTSD symptoms became more severe after the
November 7, 2014, incident, and the record shows that he was able to perform his job duties as
a firefighter until shortly after the November 7, 2014, incident. Only after that incident was he
permanently disabled from performing the essential functions of his job.
¶ 44 Thus, the manifest weight of the evidence establishes that Prawdzik’s psychological
disability was caused, at least in part, by his work duties. Prawdzik’s work duties causally
contributed to his disability by aggravating the symptoms of his underlying PTSD and/or
generalized anxiety disorder to the point where these disorders became permanently disabling.
¶ 45 The Board raises two main arguments in defense of its decision. First, the Board argues that
Prawdzik’s claim is governed by a stricter causation standard because Prawdzik alleges a
mental or psychological injury rather than a physical injury. As noted, Prawdzik maintains that
he is entitled to a line of duty disability pension if he can show that his employment duties were
a causal factor (i.e., a contributing cause, but not necessarily the sole or original cause) in his
disability. The Board concedes that this standard applies in line of duty disability cases
involving physical injuries. However, the Board argues that the Illinois Supreme Court has
rejected the “causal factor” standard for line of duty disability cases involving mental or
psychological disabilities. Specifically, the Board maintains that in Robbins, 177 Ill. 2d 533,
our supreme court held that in cases involving mental disabilities, the claimant must prove that
an act of duty was the sole cause of his disabling injury, not merely a contributing cause.
¶ 46 The Board reads Robbins too broadly. As an initial matter, Robbins involved a line of duty
disability pension application filed by a police officer, not a firefighter. The Code defines “act
of duty” very differently for police officers than for firefighters. See Jensen, 362 Ill. App. 3d at
203. For police officers, the Code defines “act of duty” as any act of police duty “inherently
involving special risk, not ordinarily assumed by a citizen in the ordinary walks of life” that is
imposed on a policeman by statutes, ordinances, or regulations, or “any act of heroism ***
having for its direct purpose the saving of a life or property of a person other than the
policeman.” 40 ILCS 5/5-113 (West 2014). For firefighters, by contrast, the Code defines “act
of duty” far more broadly to include “[a]ny act imposed on an active fireman by the ordinances
of a city, or by the rules or regulations of its fire department, or any act performed by an active
fireman while on duty, having for its direct purpose the saving of the life or property of another
person.” 40 ILCS 5/6-110 (West 2014). These divergent statutory definitions of “act of duty”
entail different standards for awarding “line of duty” disability pensions to police officers as
compared to firefighters. See Jensen, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 203 (reversing Board’s denial of a line
Nor did Dr. Wasyliw deny that Prawdzik’s work duties aggravated or exacerbated his symptoms in
5
a way that contributed to his disability. To the contrary, Dr. Wasyliw acknowledged that the increasing
“generalized” anxiety that Prawdzik had been experiencing for a few days in early November “became
worse” after the November 7, 2014, work incident, and he opined that Prawdzik’s anxiety disorder was
“more widespread” at the time of his November 21, 2014, evaluation than it had been in 2011.
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of duty disability pension to a firefighter where the Board erroneously applied the definition of
“act of duty” applicable to police officers). To establish eligibility for a line of duty pension
under the stricter standard prescribed for police officers, a police officer must establish that his
disability is “the result of a specific, identifiable act of duty unique to police work.” (Internal
quotation marks omitted.) Robbins, 177 Ill. 2d at 542. Accordingly, when a police officer
alleges a psychological or mental disability caused by job-related stress, he may obtain a line
of duty pension only if he proves that “the causes of the stress are *** unique to police work.”
(Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id.; see also id. (“to be eligible for a line-of-duty disability
pension based on stress, a police officer’s psychological disability must result from a special
risk, not ordinarily assumed by a citizen in the ordinary walks of life” (internal quotation marks
omitted)). In other words, the stress alleged to be disabling must result entirely from a specific,
identifiable act of duty that is unique to police work and that involves a special risk not
confronted by members of the general public. This rule flows directly from the definition of
“act of duty” for police officers prescribed by section 5-113 of the Code. Id. (noting that the
requirement that the causes of stress be unique to police work is “an outgrowth of judicial
attempts to define and apply [section 5-113’s] term ‘act of duty’ to cases involving claimed
psychological disabilities” (internal quotation marks omitted)).
¶ 47 Applying this standard, our supreme court upheld the Board’s denial of a line of duty
pension to the claimant police officer in Robbins because the “record contain[ed] ample
evidence that [Officer] Robbins’ stress was the result of his anxiety over his job performance,
which civilians regularly suffer, and not the performance of a specific act of duty” unique to
police work. Id. at 544. Each of the psychologists who testified in the case opined that, while
Officer Robbins’s disabling stress was related to his police work, it “was not connected to any
specific act of Robbins as a police officer”; rather, the stress was triggered by general features
of his employment, such as the pace of his job duties. Id.6 Our supreme court held that this type
of generalized job stress did not entitle Officer Robbins to a line of duty pension given the
Code’s strict definition of “act of duty” for police officers. See id. at 542 (applying section
5-113’s definition of “act of duty” and ruling that, where the alleged psychological disability is
“traceable only to the general nature of being a police officer and not to a specific act of police
service,” and the causes of stress are not unique to police work, “line-of-duty disability
pensions are *** denied” (internal quotation marks omitted)).
¶ 48 In so holding, our supreme court reversed our appellate court’s judgment in Robbins,
which had reversed the Board’s denial of benefits based on common-law tort conceptions of
causation. Id. at 543-44. The appellate court did not address section 5-113’s definition of “act
of duty” for police officers or the limitations on line of duty pensions that that definition
entails. Id. at 543. Rather, the appellate court focused its analysis upon the Code’s phrase
“incurred in or resulting from the performance of an act of duty.” (Internal quotation marks
omitted.) Id. The appellate court reasoned that the words “incur” and “resulting from” were
equivalent to the word “cause.” Id. It then reasoned that the tort concept of proximate cause
allows for more than one cause of an injury. Id. Thus, the appellate court concluded that a
disabled police officer should not be deprived of a line of duty disability pension as long as one
6
Although Officer Robbins argued that his disabling stress was caused, at least in part, by a
work-related incident during which he saw a man commit suicide with a shotgun, none of the medical
opinions supported this argument. Robbins, 177 Ill. 2d at 544.
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of the causes of the disability resulted from an act of duty. Id. The appellate court awarded
Officer Robbins a line of duty disability pension based on “generalized police stress of
multiple origins” because it concluded that “Robbins’ debilitating mental condition was
caused, at least in part, by his on-duty functions as a police officer.” (Internal quotation marks
omitted.) Id. Our supreme court rejected the appellate court’s reasoning and its conclusion.
Noting that the case before it was “a statutory action with explicit requirements and not a
common law negligence action,” the supreme court ruled that the appellate court had erred by
basing its conclusion on the common law concepts of negligence and proximate cause rather
than on the plain and unambiguous language of the Code, which required that the disability
result from an “act of duty” as defined by section 5-113. Id. at 543-44.
¶ 49 The Board argues that Robbins’s rejection of a tort-based standard of causation should not
be limited to pension disability claims brought by police officers but should also apply to a
firefighter’s claim for a line of duty pension based on psychological disabilities. In its petition
for rehearing, the Board assumes that our supreme court’s holding in Robbins was based
entirely upon the supreme court’s construction of the statutory phrase “incurred in or resulting
from” the performance of an act of duty (which applies to line of duty disability claims filed by
firefighters as well as police officers) and had nothing to do with section 5-113’s definition of
“act of duty” (which applies only to police officers). Based on this assumption, the Board
contends that our original order in this case “incorrectly focused on the different ***
definitions of the phrase ‘act of duty’ in the line of duty disability statutes whereas the Court
should have focused on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the phrase ‘incurred in or
resulting from’ found in both line of duty disability statutes.” The Board maintains that “there
is no compelling reason, statutory or otherwise, why police officers and firefighters should
have a different causation standard for line of duty mental disability pensions when the
operable [causation] language in the [two] statutes” (i.e., the phrase “incurred in or resulting
from”) “is identical.”
¶ 50 We disagree. Contrary to the Board’s assertion, the “operable causation language” in the
two statutes is not identical. Although both statutes contain the phrase “incurred in or resulting
from an act of duty,” they define “act of duty” very differently. Because each statute authorizes
a line of duty disability pension only for disabling injuries resulting from an “act of duty,” the
causation standard prescribed by each statute is linked to that statute’s definition of “act of
duty.” Because each statute defines “act of duty” differently, the corresponding causation
standards must differ accordingly. Our supreme court recognized this fact in Robbins. The
supreme court’s rejection of the tort-based standard of causation in Robbins was based entirely
on section 5-113’s narrow definition of “act of duty,” which requires that the disabling stress
be caused entirely by an identifiable act of duty unique to police work and involving a special
risk not ordinarily assumed by civilians (thereby precluding any common law, tort-based
conception of contributing cause). The definition of “act of duty” applicable to line of duty
claims filed by firefighters includes no comparable restriction. See 40 ILCS 5/6-110 (West
2014). Accordingly, unlike a police officer, a firefighter seeking a line of duty disability
pension may establish that his disability is caused by an “act of duty” even if work-related
stress was a contributing cause, rather than the sole cause, of his disabling psychological
condition. See, e.g., Edwards, 2013 IL App (2d) 121262, ¶ 32 (a firefighter may recover a line
of duty disability pension by showing that an act of duty was an “aggravating, contributing or
exacerbating factor” in the ensuing disability without having to prove that his job duties were
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the “sole or even the primary cause” of his disability); see also Wade, 226 Ill. 2d at 505;
Carrillo, 2014 IL App (1st) 130656, ¶ 23; Scepurek, 2014 IL App (1st) 131066, ¶ 27; Village
of Oak Park, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 371.7
¶ 51 In its petition for rehearing, the Board accuses us of making the “same error as the appellate
court in Robbins.” To the contrary, it is the Board that employs the same flawed reasoning
applied by the appellate court in Robbins, which our supreme court explicitly rejected. Like the
appellate court in Robbins, the Board focuses its causation analysis entirely on the phrase
“incurred in or resulting from” rather than on section 5-113’s definition of “act of duty.” It is
the latter, not the former, that our supreme court treated as dispositive.
¶ 52 In sum, the Board misconstrues Robbins. Robbins did not impose a different causation
standard for firefighters alleging psychological disabilities. Nor did Robbins eliminate or limit
the traditional causal factor standard in a way that would apply in this case. Although the
Robbins court rejected the appellate court’s reliance on tort-based standards of causation
(including the principle that any act of duty that contributes to the disability is a “cause” of the
disability), it did so because the appellate court had failed to apply the governing statutory
definition of “act of duty” for police officers. Robbins does not hold or imply that the “causal
factor” test should not apply to mental disability claims brought by firefighters seeking line of
duty disability pensions. See generally Jensen, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 203. Nor does Robbins hold
or imply that, to obtain a line of duty disability pension, a firefighter must prove that some act
of duty was the “sole” or “original” cause of his mental or psychological disability. If a
firefighter can show that some “act of duty” (as defined by section 6-110, which applies to
firefighters rather than policemen) causally contributed to his disabling mental condition, he
may recover a line of duty pension. As noted above, Prawdzik has made that showing.
¶ 53 The Board also argues that the evidence does not support Prawdzik’s claim that the
November 7, 2014, incident (or any other act of duty) caused or aggravated his PTSD
symptoms to the point that they became disabling. The Board stresses that each of the
evaluating doctors (plus many of Prawdzik’s treaters as well as Prawdzik himself) opined that
Prawdzik’s PTSD was caused by his combat trauma in Afghanistan, and it argues that
Prawdzik’s job duties merely “triggered symptoms” of his PTSD. Moreover, the Board notes
that the medical records show that Prawdzik’s PTSD symptoms were worsening in 2013 and
2014, prior to the November 7, 2014, incident. Further, Prawdzik admitted that he may have
been having increasing anxiety prior to the November 7, 2014, incident, and the medical
records show that to be the case.
¶ 54 We do not find these arguments persuasive. Although there is some evidence in the record
suggesting that Prawdzik’s PTSD and anxiety symptoms were worsening shortly before the
November 7, 2014, incident, it is undisputed that Prawdzik was able to work full duty without
significant restrictions until shortly after the November 7, 2014, incident. It was not until after
7
Each of these cases involved claims for physical disabilities. The Board argues that Robbins’s
stricter causation standard should apply to firefighter pension disability claims based on psychological
disabilities. However, to paraphrase a statement made by the Board in another context, “there is no
compelling reason, statutory or otherwise” why firefighter pension disability claims predicated on
psychological disabilities should be governed by a different causation standard than similar claims
predicated on physical disabilities. The Board’s only argument for this proposition is its contention that
Robbins requires it. As shown above, that is not the case.
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that incident that Prawdzik’s symptoms became permanently disabling. Prawdzik testified that
his PTSD symptoms became more severe after the November 7, 2014, incident. The medical
opinions of Drs. Reff, Weine, Wasyliw, and Frank either support this testimony or, at a
minimum, do not contradict it. Moreover, the medical records and some of the medical
opinions suggest that the aggravation of Prawdzik’s symptoms in 2013 and 2014 (prior to the
November 7, 2014, incident) was itself due, at least in part, to acts of duty such as driving fire
trucks, which reminded Prawdzik of his combat exposure.
¶ 55 The Board relies extensively upon our appellate court’s decisions in Hammond, 369 Ill.
App. 3d 294, and Graves, 281 Ill. App. 3d 508. Neither decision supports the Board’s
argument in this case. In Hammond, our appellate court affirmed the denial of a line of duty
disability pension to a firefighter where there was evidence suggesting that certain acts of duty
had merely triggered symptoms of an underlying psychological condition that was causally
unrelated to the firefighter’s job. Here, by contrast, the evidence established that certain acts of
duty (including a traumatic work incident on November 7, 2014), causally contributed to
Prawdzik’s disability by aggravating the symptoms of his underlying psychological disorder
and rendering it disabling.8
¶ 56 The Board’s reliance on Graves is also unavailing. As an initial matter, Graves appears to
apply an erroneous causation standard. The Graves court held that a firefighter’s “general job
dissatisfaction or job stress arising from the inability to handle general duties does not give rise
to a duty-related disability pension.” Graves, 281 Ill. App. 3d at 515. The court further ruled
that, even where general aspects of a firefighter’s duties cause or contribute to a psychological
disability, “stress or depression resulting from general employment functions inherent in the
occupation and common to all firefighters [is] not the equivalent of the specific acts of duty
contemplated by the statute.” Id. In crafting this definition of “act of duty,” Graves relied on
cases involving the definition of “act of duty” applicable to police officers. However, our
appellate court subsequently held that that definition does not apply in pension cases involving
firefighters. Jensen, 362 Ill. App. 3d at 203-04. Thus, “it is not entirely clear *** whether
Graves is still good law.” Hammond, 369 Ill. App. 3d at 307.
¶ 57 In any event, the instant case is distinguishable from Graves. Here, Prawdzik presented
evidence of a specific, work-related traumatic incident (the November 7, 2014, incident) that
aggravated his preexisting symptoms and rendered his preexisting psychological condition
permanently disabling. Unlike the claimant in Graves, Prawdzik did not base his claim entirely
upon allegations of stress or depression resulting from general employment functions.
8
Contrary to the Board’s assertion in its petition for rehearing, the Hammond court did not hold that
an act of duty (or the cumulative effects of any acts of duty) aggravated the symptoms of the plaintiff’s
underlying psychological condition, rendering it disabling. To the contrary, the court upheld the
Board’s finding that the plaintiff’s disability “stemmed from interpersonal difficulties” rather than the
plaintiff’s job duties. Hammond, 369 Ill. App. 3d at 307. The Board’s finding in Hammond was based,
in part, on the opinion of Dr. Harris, an independent psychiatrist who evaluated the plaintiff. According
to Dr. Harris, the plaintiff was disabled due to several preexisting psychological problems that were
unrelated to the plaintiff’s work duties, and the claimant’s disability “was not duty related.” Id. at 301.
This refutes the Board’s assertion in its petition for rehearing that “every doctor in Hammond found that
an ‘act of duty’ or the ‘cumulative effects of acts of duty’ as a firefighter in some way caused or
contributed to the worsening of the plaintiff’s mental condition such that he became disabled.”
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¶ 58 The manifest weight of the evidence in this case establishes that Prawdzik’s psychological
disability was caused, at least in part, by his work duties. Even when all reasonable inferences
are drawn in the Board’s favor, a conclusion opposite of that reached by the Board is clearly
apparent.
¶ 59 CONCLUSION
¶ 60 The judgment of the circuit court of Will County is reversed. The cause is remanded to the
Board with instructions to award Prawdzik a line of duty disability pension.
¶ 61 Reversed; cause remanded.
¶ 62 JUSTICE SCHMIDT, dissenting:
¶ 63 I respectfully dissent. Plaintiff’s service to this country, which undeniably came at a great
personal loss, demands the respect of this court. However, I disagree with the majority’s
finding that a conclusion opposite that reached by the Board is clearly apparent. For that
reason, I would affirm the Board’s decision and find plaintiff is not entitled to a line of duty
fireman’s disability.
¶ 64 The record contains sufficient evidence to support the Board’s finding that neither
plaintiff’s general firefighting/EMS duties nor the November 7, 2014, incident were
“ ‘causative factor[s] contributing to the claimant’s disability.’ ” Supra ¶ 40 (quoting
Scepurek, 2014 IL App (1st) 131066, ¶ 27). In fact, the record shows that plaintiff’s PTSD
symptoms waxed and waned since he returned from combat. For example, in 2010 and 2011,
plaintiff expressed concerns that his PTSD symptoms were causing problems with coworkers.
In 2013, plaintiff’s PTSD symptoms increased to the extent that he sought mental health
treatment. As late as September 2014, plaintiff continued to complain of a depressed mood,
nightmares, and flashbacks. In the weeks leading up to the November 7, 2014, incident,
plaintiff reported experiencing increased anxiety. After the incident, claimant worked two
more shifts without issue. He reported experiencing a “normal amount” of anxiety following
the incident that slowly increased until he realized, on November 16, 2014, he could no longer
focus on his job. Dr. Wasyliw attributed plaintiff’s increased anxiety leading up to the incident
to plaintiff’s longstanding physical problems, new medications—which plaintiff stopped
taking following the incident—and alcohol use. In January 2015, plaintiff reported having
increased anxiety and panic attacks. In February 2015, he had a panic attack while driving his
personal vehicle, and in July 2015, he had a panic attack while riding on a duck boat. Because
there is sufficient evidence to support the Board’s decision, I would defer to its finding that the
November 7, 2014, incident, like others before and after, merely triggered symptoms of
plaintiff’s preexisting PTSD but that the incident did not causally contribute to his disability.
¶ 65 In closing, I note that the majority’s analysis in this case could have far reaching
detrimental consequences for our combat veterans. Specifically, the majority’s decision may
deter employers—at least police and fire departments—from hiring combat veterans if their
general job duties might trigger some preexisting PTSD, which would entitle them to receive a
line of duty disability pension.
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