(WSBT) Dozens of local U.S. Military veterans may soon have a new option for health care in Elkhart County. But some say while it's a step up, it's still not enough. They want a new Veterans Administration hospital in St. Joseph County. It appears there may be a new plan shaping up to make that a reality.

The new V.A. clinic is set to open at a still undecided location in Goshen next May. It will provide outpatient services like X-rays and a medical lab similar to the V.A. clinic operating right now in South Bend.

But at a meeting Monday night at Elkhart's Disabled American Veterans Chapter 19 headquarters, some said while the clinic is a big step up, it's not enough.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Corporal James Nuet knows what pain feels like. He was shot in the arm while training to fix radio and radar systems for Pacific Fleet Air Craft Carriers during World War II. He served with the Corps' Night Fighter Squadron, servicing Hellcat Fighter Planes.

But half a century later, it's his artificial hip that's causing him the most pain.

"It's a pain I never thought existed," he said.

To alleviate it, Nuet takes a two-hour trip to an inpatient V.A. hospital in Fort Wayne or a three hour trip to Indianapolis so he can utilize the health care benefits afforded to him by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"At least once a month [I take the trip]," he said. "I'd much rather stay at home."

Monday night, Nuet learned some veterans may soon have that option, thanks to the new V.A. clinic in Goshen.

But that won't do him much good. He needs a full service hospital. So at Monday's meeting, he asked a question.

"Why don't they just take over the old St. Joe hospital?" he asked.

He got a mixed response.

"We're trying to find out exactly what part of the Mishawaka Saint [Joseph Regional Medical Center] facility would be available," said 2nd District Congressman Joe Donnelly, (D) South Bend. "[We're finding out] exactly what needs would be the most pressing in the area."

But some say right now the project isn't feasible.

"There simply aren't enough veterans to sustain multiple full service hospitals," said Third District Congressman Mark Souder, (R) Fort Wayne.

Rep. Souder says new outpatient clinics with expanded services will be able to serve more veterans.

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 19 Commander William Fletcher agrees.

"I don't think we'll see an inpatient clinic in South Bend anytime soon. The next best thing is to have an outpatient clinic where we can be diagnosed, then forwarded to the nearest inpatient," he said.

But Nuet isn't convinced.

"There is a growing need for an inpatient hospital in this area," he maintained.

Rep. Donnelly says it's clear, more information is needed.

"We see the need for veterans care continuing to grow almost on a monthly basis. It's a data driven process, [asking] is the need for service there? We're in the process of answering that now. We hope to keep that ball moving along," he said.

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center spokesman Mike Stack confirmed the ball is moving, but moving very slowly. He says the hospital is considering selling the current Mishawaka site to the V.A. after its new hospital on Douglas Road in Mishawaka opens in 2009.

But he says so far the plan is only in the initial discussion stages.

A feasibility study on St. Joseph's Hospital in South Bend is scheduled to wrap up in December. But that land has already been committed to the Catholic Diocese of South Bend-Fort Wayne.