I hate to broad brush anything. My husband’s experience with the VA had always been good. But he stopped going about 10 years ago. My sister in law was the CFO for a large VA Hospital in Southern California and she would tell us shocking stories.
VA care varies, outpatient care I have had has been been good.
Inpatient/surgical I have heard a great deal of issues about, I would not go there for that.
Of course nothing is 100%...hence the broad brush statement from me, which you upheld.