De facto structural element?

[Chad Fabry]

The house is in 1928 story and a half. It's a rubble foundation that has been parged. There are newer (about 10 years old) vinyl windows in place in the basement.
The photo shows the bottom of the window pushed upward. It's moved enough so that the window is jammed shut and the sash itself is distorted.
I didn't see any signs of significant movement anywhere in the structure. Except for this wall, all the walls were covered in finished surfaces. That said, the floors felt flat, the doors closed square in their frames, and the house looked level and plumb.
I'm not coming up with any plausible explanation for the issue. It affects three of five windows.
The guy that I usually rely on for foundation issues asserts that it's from saturated masonry freezing. I'm not sure that explains the condition.

[Bill Kibbel]

It's not from any structural settlement.  They probably used a considerable amount of hydraulic repair mortar (expansive) to fill gaps below the windows. 

[Chad Fabry]

1 hour ago, Bill Kibbel said:

It's not from any structural settlement.  They probably used a considerable amount of hydraulic repair mortar (expansive) to fill gaps below the windows. 

You're smart.

 

[Tom Raymond]

If the foundation was moving the cracks in the parge coating would more closely match the distortion in the window. 

There is a reason the manufacturer calls for backer rod and caulk.

[Jim Baird]

Whatever happened took some time, but that has to be pushed up and not settled.  

[ejager]

Is there a possibility that the incorrect type of expanding foam led to this amount of distortion? Vinyl frames are not all that rigid....