I am rated at 40% for my right knee, but in January I had my right ankle fused ( due to an auto wreck from '01) at the VA hospital in Gainesville Florida. My question is can I get convalesence pay for a non-service connected surgery? I called the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and to my astonishment they could NOT answer my question. I was told by an elderly gentleman, during one of my many follow up appointments, that I would be able to get it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!