Me, too, Pete. I had cataract surgery done by private doctor via medicare because VA would not do it. I had my teeth fixed by private dentist because the VA filed the same filling twice and made a mess of it. They pulled a perfectly good tooth and would not do an implant to replace it. I paid $3000 to do it. The glasses they gave me did not fit with one lense about half an inch thick. They are such cheap bastards I now use a private eye doctor.
I need neck surgery. I would cut my throat before I would use the VA for that service. The VAMC is the greatest little welfare hospital in Florida. I would not set foot in their ER in Tampa. There are a few good doctors in the system, but the system itself is like Vegas. Do you feel lucky? Well, do you, then use the VA for a major surgery.