My husband has 4 popliteal cysts in his left knee, which causes him excruciating pain, just to stand. The VA Ortho Clinic has refused to do an arthroscopy to remove them until he starts exercising, loosing weight, and getting his A1C lower. They don t understand that it s too painful for him to walk for even short distances. He continually ices his knee and has been sleeping in his recliner since 2011 as it s too painful for him to go upstairs to our bedroom. Two of the cysts obscure the insertion of the medial meniscus and the ACL, so the radiologist couldn t tell if there is any damage there. Any idea on how to get the needed surgery done? His PCP at the VA Clinic refuses another referral to the Ortho Clinic.