An RAF computer clerk who suffered a hand injury while typing in numbers has cost the Ministry of Defence £484,000 in damages and legal costs - almost 30 times what a soldier injured in combat might receive for a similar injury.

The clerk, who is in her 20s and has not been named, was diagnosed with the RSI-style condition de Quervain's tenosynovitis.

The data clerk also developed depression after falling victim to her hand injury. Justifying the award to the woman, the MoD said: "The claimant was serving in the Royal Air Force and was engaged in data entry work.

"The condition diagnosed was de Quervain's tenosynovitis which medical experts instructed by both the claimant and the Ministry of Defence agreed was a condition which is rarely a work-related upper limb disorder.

"It is not always clear what causes this condition. In this case, however, the timing of the onset of the symptoms occurred at the same time as a reported increased work rate.
"The symptoms appeared in the claimant's right hand which was used for numerical data entry and the medical experts therefore considered that the work had made a material contribution to the duration and seriousness of her condition.

"Medical experts also agreed that the claimant would be unlikely to return to part-time or full-time work as the condition had become permanent. The claimant also developed associated depression.