[I have used VA healthcare, I have several friends who work for the VA Health Administration, and I have many friends who use VA healthcare.]
When the VA system works it treats the whole person. For example, if you have PTSD it may exacerbate conditions that may appear unrelated. In theory, all care-givers (MDs, therapists, etc) meet about an individual vet's conditions on a regular basis (every 2 weeks if memory serves correctly) to identify and develop longer term treatments for co-morbid conditions (I can only confirm this for one VA hospital).
Even if there weren't an attempt to treat co-morbid conditions, there are so many combat specific injuries that it might be a moot point. For example, I have a friend who is a Vietnam Vet that suffers from agent orange related illnesses; these illnesses exasperate more common conditions, namely diabetes. Throw in PTSD and anxiety, and now you have someone dealing with such a plethora of different symptoms - symptoms that are common in the veteran community but not in other communities. Would a typical GP have the expertise to handle this? Most likely not.
When the VA system works it treats the whole person. For example, if you have PTSD it may exacerbate conditions that may appear unrelated. In theory, all care-givers (MDs, therapists, etc) meet about an individual vet's conditions on a regular basis (every 2 weeks if memory serves correctly) to identify and develop longer term treatments for co-morbid conditions (I can only confirm this for one VA hospital).
Even if there weren't an attempt to treat co-morbid conditions, there are so many combat specific injuries that it might be a moot point. For example, I have a friend who is a Vietnam Vet that suffers from agent orange related illnesses; these illnesses exasperate more common conditions, namely diabetes. Throw in PTSD and anxiety, and now you have someone dealing with such a plethora of different symptoms - symptoms that are common in the veteran community but not in other communities. Would a typical GP have the expertise to handle this? Most likely not.