The OMI report on the dental system was presented to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel in October 2016. A letter written by Acting Special Counsel Adam Miles in August 2017 said that the dentists no longer use the paper consultation forms and have access to the electronic system.

Hale's fate

Though the paperwork problem appeared to be fixed, the Montana VA dental system still caused pain to patients.

In January, the Montana VA shut down the dental office at its Billings clinic. Patients needing routine dental work were referred to the next nearest VA clinic — either Fort Harrison near Helena (245 miles away) or in Sheridan, Wyoming (128 miles away). Provider agreement programs, such as the Veterans Choice Program, were suspended in the middle of the year for lack of funding.

The VA hasn't publicly explained the reason for the dental program's closure.

Montana VA spokesman Mike Garcia explained to The Gazette on Oct. 10 that the Billings dental position is "scheduled to be filled in January." On Wednesday Garcia declined to discuss Hale, citing personnel privacy.

In the background, the future of Hale's employment at the VA is in dispute.