Anyone with External Appeal experience

I have been denied for a lap band over my RNY, due to enlarged stoma and pouch.  I have appealed the denial and was not sucessful.  I have multiple health problems, severe hypoglycemia for the rapid emptying, oseoarthritis of my knees, bulging disk in my low back and neck, recurrent ventral hernia with is causing a lot pain and PCOS.  
I would like to know if anyone has had any sucess with an external appeal and won.  I would be hiring Walt Lindstrom to assist me with the review. 
I am trying to decide which route to go, pay the money to have them help me, or pay for the lap band to be placed during a hernia repair and pay that out of my pocket. 
(and I do not want a DS, I know I will hear back that is the route to go, it is not the right one for me)
THank you in advance for your input