284 A.D. 1071 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1954
Appeal by the insurance carrier from an award of the Workmen’s Compensation Board awarding compensation to claimant for a 22%% schedule loss of use of the right hand. Claimant was and is employed as a workmen’s compensation referee. After work on Friday, January 25, 1952, claimant injured his hand while attempting to push his stalled automobile. Ho one claims that he was then engaged in his employment. He went to a doctor the following morning and his injury was diagnosed as a sprain and his wrist was splinted and strapped to partially immobilize it. An X ray, taken at that time, disclosed no fracture. Claimant drove his car some on Saturday and Sunday and, on Monday morning, drove it to the place where he was to hold hearings in compensation cases. In the process of these hearings he turned numerous papers in his files, necessitating a rotating or twisting motion of his right wrist, and did some writing. In so doing he experienced sharp pain and swelling in the wrist. He continued to suffer pain during his work on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the swelling increased. He returned to his doctor who re-bandaged the wrist, and finally, on Thursday, re-X-rayed it, and a separated fracture was disclosed. The board has found that claimant’s work and frequent use of his