Tomah VA Director Victoria Brahm said the clinic has followed through on all the IG’s recommendations.

“I think the findings were fair,” Brahm said. “We’ve done everything that we’ve been asked to do.”

Both the internal and IG reports makes clear that Schiller knowingly violated VA policy but the internal report also points to problems with a hostile work environment, which was also cited as a factor in the over-prescription of painkillers revealed in 2015.

According to the internal VA report, Schiller used his own bits — known as burs — and other personal supplies over the objections of his assistant. Schiller said he was aware that he was only allowed to use VA equipment but admitted using personal equipment and cleaning it in accordance with private sector protocols.

The assistant said she reported the policy violation in December 2015 to the lead hygienist, who reportedly told her “not to worry about it” and that “he would get caught sooner or later.”

Schiller wasn’t caught until Oct. 19 — more than a year after he was hired — when a substitute hygienist witnessed him use a personal bur and reported it to another dentist.