of the right hand due to
arthritis. He reported that in October 1944, a drum fell on
his hand, bruising the middle and ring fingers and
fracturing the fifth metacarpal. A January 1991 x-ray
report noted a deformity of the right fifth metacarpal bone
probably from previous injury with no residual fracture
seen. There was some mild subluxation of the proximal
phalanx of the fifth metacarpal bone. There was a small
fragment which was well corticated projecting over the ulnar
styloid which the radiologist indicated might be a sequela
of an old injury. There were some calcifications within the
triangular cartilage and some narrowing of the distal
interphalangeal joints associated with hypertrophic changes.
The radiological impression included evidence of an old
healed injury as described. The examiner indicated that x-
rays showed degenerative changes in the little finger and
that the other digits appeareddisease free. The assessment
included some evidence of limited range of motion only on
active trial of his small, ring and middle fingers of his
right hand. The examiner noted that that veteran had a full
passive range of motion, and it was difficult to fully
assess why the veteran had limitation in the active phase.
On VA examination in December 1991, the veteran reported
that a drum rolled on his hand in October 1944. He
indicated that an x-ray taken at the time of the injury
showed a fifth metacarpal fracture which was treated with
cast immobilization for eight weeks. He complained of loss
of sensation in the little finger and loss of function of
his right hand. He stated that shaking hands was difficult
due to pain. On examination, the examiner noted that the
veteran wore a cock-up volar splint.