Having worked in the mental health field, and being a VA client myself, I believe the quality of VA care for the mentally and emotionally ill is above average. The VA has accumulated a large body of science in the treatment of PTSD and what today they term DOES—disorders of extreme stress. The advantage VA has in treating these disorders is a clinical setting with multiple patients that can relate to, critique and support each other.
The VA is generous, in my opinion, with veterans suffering from organic brain disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolarism. Generally, patients are born with these illnesses but do not exhibit symptoms until adolescence or early adulthood. It is not uncommon for these people to be recruited into the military and only later begin to suffer symptoms. The VA approach is to take responsibility for the welfare, treatment and income (pensions) for these veterans even though their illnesses are mostly non-service connected.
The VA also runs some of the best drug/alcohol treatment facilities in the country.
I’m glad to hear that. I know from experience their care in other areas is top notch. It’s unfortunate this guy did himself in and completely understandable that his mother would blame the VA but I don’t think its justified.