Yes, and the lower level employees are so cocky that they challenge the MD’s. MD’s get frustrated that they are not supported and leave.
When one MD leaves the patient load on the remaining docs increases and they get frustrated and leave.
I have considerable first hand exposure to a VA hospital and know many Dr’s and staff. There are a lot of excellent physicians at the VA who really care.
One of the biggest problems was when Obama changed the requirements for PTSD that a person no longer needed to be in combat. Everyone started filing for PTSD disability, thus creating the overflow that blocked those really deserving it.
If you get 100% disability you get $4,000 per month tax free.
Thus, for a large percentage of the patients they do not want to get well, they want to prove how sick they are to get full disability. It is really frustrating for the Dr’s.
PTSD claims for sexual harassment is very common. PTSD from a bad boss... PTSD from seeing dead soldiers in their coffins. I even saw one who had PTSD because his drill Sargent yelled at him! I’m not making this up.