The Board also found that “the disability for which claim is made did not
result from exposure to radiation in the course of employment” and that the
Bureau's rejection of appellant's claim was proper.
The Board further stated:

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There is no indication that she had any significant exposure 10

radium. Moreover, her personal physician’s records, as well as extensive
medical examinations during 1966 and 1968, do not establish that
appellant has or had an organic condition traceable to radium exposure.

CASE NO. 48

and Department of the Navy

In the Matter of

20 ECAB 330
Type of injury: Contracture of Hand.
ECA B's Decision: Denial Affirmed.
Date of Decision: 1969.

“Appellant's Allegation: That the contracture of his right hand was causally

related to his employment exposure to radiation.

Facts: On a prior appeal, in a decision issued January E1, 1966, (17 ECAB 264,

Volume V, page 78, Studies in Workmen's Compensation and Radiation Injury,

AEC 1969) the Appeals Board affirmed a determination by the Bureau of
Employees’ Compensation that appellant did not sustain a compensable
disability as a result of his exposure to radiation at work, and that the
contracture of his right hand following amputation of the right index finger
after a nonemployment-related injury in 1963 did not result from the radiation
exposure, In 1968 appellant petitioned the BEC to reopen the case based on

submitted statements by two physicians: one physician’s statement reported a

diagnosis of “radiation effect’’ but contained no other information or
explanation. The other physician stated thae appellant had a contraction and
fixation of the wrist and fingers of the ‘right hand due to radioactive
contamination, but did not submit any medical rationale for the opinion.
Medical Evidence: Appellant was examined by a Board certified internist. The
diagnoses were arteriosclerotic heart disease with angina, diabetes, borderline
low white blood count and platelet count without significant hematological
disease, causalgia of the right arm with amputation of the right index finger,
mild organic brain syndrome, obstruction of the left common carotid
circulation, early bilateral senile cataracts, nystagmus secondary to a
cerebrovascular accident, dermatitis of the left wrist compatible with
neurodermatitis, angiokeratoma of the scrotum, a keratotic lesion of the nose
compatible with senile keratosis, and bilateral tines pedis. Bone marrow and
urine tests were nondiagnostic. An examination for residual radioactivity

revealed minimal presence of radium consistent with past exposure. Appellant
had his right arm in a cast and complained of pain in the right arm when the
fingers of the right had were touched lightly. The doctor stated, “While most

of the current findings are consistent with physiologic aging, radiation effect
149

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