Strict Timelines Bar Police Chief’s PTSD Disability Claim

In Segalla v. Reading Retirement Board (CR-21-0368, Aug. 8, 2025), the Division of Administrative Law Appeals upheld the denial of a police chief’s application for accidental disability retirement based on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Although Chief Segalla experienced multiple traumatic incidents during his career, his application did not meet the statutory requirements under G.L. c. 32, § 7(1). Specifically, he failed to file within two years of the incidents or provide timely written notice. The administrative magistrate also concluded that while his psychological injuries were real and permanent, the cumulative stressors of police work were not considered sufficiently “uncommon” to qualify as a compensable occupational hazard under Massachusetts law.

The ruling highlights the strict statutory framework governing accidental disability retirement claims. Even when medical experts agree that an employee’s incapacity stems from job-related trauma, failure to satisfy the procedural requirements,such as timeliness and proper documentation, can lead to denial of a claim. For public safety employees, this decision underscores the importance of promptly documenting and reporting traumatic events and filing applications within the statutory period.