In a six-page letter to the White House, Caroline Lerner listed 10 examples of allegations that were subsequently confirmed.  She also noted her office has referred 29 of 50 whistleblower complaints to the VA for investigation.

"The VA, and particularly the VA's Office of the Medical Inspector, has consistently used a 'harmless error' defense, where the department acknowledges problems but claims patient care is unaffected," Lerner said. "This approach has prevented the VA from acknowledging the severity of systemic problems and from taking the necessary steps to provide quality care to veterans."

The result is that veterans' health and safety have been unnecessarily put at risk, she said.