The VA is another dysfunctional Government entity. that seems to serve only itself. I speak from experience and have earned the right based on 22 years of service to this country. I won’t go back to the place, and I feel sorry for those who have no other choice.
Son’s ex’s mother had a cancer diagnosis delayed for months, going from possibly treatable to fatal. Where at a normal facility, you would be in for an X-ray or Cat Scan possibly the same day or within a couple of days turned into months.
The real issue at the VA, IMHO, is that the civil service employees are UNION, with almost no risk of losing their job.
Their agenda is their 30 year plan to retirement and the patients, individually or collectively, are not on their 30 year agenda.
It is the same with almost any fed, state or local governmental agency/bureaucracy (except the military services which are not unionized).
I'm sorry for your VA experience, but dysfunctionality starts with management and trickles down.
My experience at my VA clinic and hospital has been top notch.
From regular office visits to my cataract surgery, nothing but competence and professionalism.
Good, caring competent managers is what's needed to fix the problems.