Convalescent pay

[shieldsy71]

Hopefully someone can help me out with this one. I'm 70% service connected for my back, knees, ankles and mood disorder/depression. I had surgery in the beginning of March to replace a ruptured tendon in my ankle. I'm service connected for both ankles at 0%. The surgery was done by a civilian orthopedic surgeon through the Veterans Choice program. 

I have an attorney working on an appeal of a claim I put in that was denied. After the surgery,  the attorney also put in a claim for an increase for both ankles,  for convalescent pay for the surgery (I've been in a cast or boot since the surgery and will be in a brace until June) and to have my claims expedited. My doctor  a letter staying that my total recovery time will be 11 to 12 weeks. He's also providing a letter to my attorney that my ankle will never be the same even after surgery.  I haven't been able to work since June and I'm on the edge of homelessness. 

To make a long story a little shorter,  I'm trying to figure out when I'll get the convalescent pay. Can they approve that and give it to me first or do I have to wait until everything is adjudicated? Thanks in advance. 

[shieldsy71]

One more question that I'm going someone can help me with. If the VA does decide to expedite my claim for convalescent pay,  would it come as a separate payment or would it come with my regular monthly payment?  Thanks in advance.