My right knee has had two surgeries. One to take out bone fragments and tendon from a broken patella in 2003 which happened during an explosion in Kuwait that threw me into the ground. I could not run after that but had a great deal of fredom until 2007 when I started having stabiity problems. After many tests a sports surgeon advised a lateral release. It made things worse and I now wear a brace and use a cane or crutches. My swelling never disappeared and the only thing that seemed to get it stronger was physical therapy in and out of pool. Recently the knee turns red, pain increases and the skin on it is flaking. I am a Vet and rely on the VA, but they will not send me for another ortho exam and stopped my physical therapy after two months claiming a lack of funding. My concern is this reddness and falking that I have never had before. The only thing on my knee is a cotton thin sock like tube which is under my brace. The brace does not touch the knee in this area as it supports the sides so my knee joint is not tilted. Is this new development something I should be concerned with?