KNOXVILLE (WATE) – A disabled veteran has been having trouble seeing a doctor so he can have surgery. He’s part of the VA’s Veterans Choice program, which is supposed to speed up the process of getting to a doctor.

The Veterans Choice program was set up to quickly work through the backlog of vets waiting for medical care. Anyone more than 40 miles from a Veterans Affairs facility, or waiting more than 30 days for an appointment, could go get private care outside the VA system.

Gerald Bingham was told he needs surgery in February, but has been waiting for private care ever since. It’s painful just to hug his adopted daughter Isabelle Marie. The former government worker and Army veteran is disabled by a degenerative disc disease. He can barely move his left arm.

“The whole left side hurts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and there are days I can’t even walk,” he said.

Bingham says in February, VA technicians in Knoxville took a CT scan of his painful back. Within 30 days, in early March, he was sent to the Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City. He says he was told by the VA his next step would be to see a physician.

“He says, ‘I’m going to send you to a neurologist to have nerve conduction tests… in Morristown,” he said.

In March, Bingham said he had been recommended and eventually would be sent to a doctor for surgery.

“To a neurosurgeon, an orthopedic neurosurgeon here in Knoxville so I would start the process,” he said.

Four months later, he still hadn’t seen the neurosurgeon. Clearly frustrated when he first talked with WATE 6 On Your Side last month, Bingham had about given up in talking with the VA.

“The more you press the harder it is to get any attention. That’s the VA’s findings of my neck,” he said.

The findings from way back in February indicated a degenerative disc disease and one other problem – it reads: there is “abnormal destruction” of his teeth.

“They’re falling out, one by one. And I can’t eat food. I eat soft food.”

We gathered his information, scanned it, and electronically contacted the Veterans Administration at Mountain Home, sending a request signed by Bingham giving the VA permission to speak to us about his situation. That was at the end of July, the VA’s response to us was prompt. Their email note said, “We have forwarded the request for help to the Business Office staff who should be in contact with the patient to help resolve the issue. We hope to have this resolved soon.”

Within days of our inquiry, Bingham received a positive response.

“The gentleman from the VA Mountain Home apologized for all the mix-up and everything else,” said Bingham.

He was told the surgeon of his choice was not involved in the Veterans Choice program, hence the delay.

“It takes a great weight off of me. Now I’m not afraid to get out of my house and go places,” he said.

Soon Bingham hopes to hug Isabelle Marie without pain. Surgery is expected later this month.

In a recent press release, the VA says it is “moving forward on two paths to further improve the Choice program.” First, the VA says it is working toward a program that is easy to understand and administer. Secondly, it’s pursuing a program that meets the needs of veterans and community providers.

The VA certainly took care of Bingham’s problem once it was brought to their attention.