Keep persisting, Val - sooner or later it will happen. Maybe a lawyer at your office can look at it? I hope it goes more smoothly this time. What do they mean you did not send stuff "in time?" There should not be a limit on when you can request approval for this surgery!
Once this happened to me (on my first ill fated surgery!) and it took a couple months for my doctor to send the letter of medical necessity plus tests or something.
Keep your hopes and spirits up
Thinking of you, Erika