Right on JR & JarI have had a few Doc's like that in the passed. I look them right in he eye and ask. Are you sure you went to f*cking Med School or did you just take a few online classes? Then I tell them, you may work for the VA, but you see Doc I will not turn your sorry ass in to the VA. I will however turn in my complaint on your ass to the AMA, both State & Fed's!!!
I mentor the newer guys in group you can't sit back and wait for shit to happen or expect anyone to do anything for you. You gotta get started learning about your issues and be your own case manager no matter how frustrating and overwhelming it gets. Know & expect the VA or any govt process is gonna be slower, much slower than you expect and recklessly complicated = frustration/anxiety.
We vets took over our group and the docs or interns sit back and do what they need to do but they know they need to earn our respect and we run the show. It is not contentious we just make straight forward statements that they understand there is a line and we aren't particularly impressed because they are MDs. They can provide medical input and guidance but they know we will be skeptical and decide if it is pertinent or not.
I also had some messed up docs too, also basically nearly everyone it seems on here & in my group. That included while I was on AD and it is not solely a VA issue. It is based on the individual as Jar noted. Every Neuro Doc and the Pysch Doc I dealt with at the VA were great but they're not my primary doc either. I wasn't quite as bold as JR (good for you JR for being a straight shooter!) since I was new at dealing with it but I was pretty clear I was not pleased or impressed and I was the customer as the patient and had no problem providing my quality of service feedback (everyone wants them these days) promptly and to their boss.