A POSTIE who claims he suffered a long-term thumb injury tossing letters on his delivery run can now seek compensation. 
Melbourne postman Mark Anderson alleges he developed the work-related injury visiting up to 900 letterboxes during a single day.
The 47-year-old, who has worked for Australia Post for almost 20 years, applied to have his case heard by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia after Australia Post found in 2014 it wasn't liable to pay compensation.
The employer argued an underlying osteoarthritic condition was responsible for Mr Anderson's pain. The tribunal heard Mr Anderson began to notice pain in his left thumb, as well as to other parts of his hands, in 2012.Tribunal member Damien Cremean said Mr Anderson's postal delivery work had aggravated his underlying arthritic condition and his condition was compensable.