My guess is, the VA isn't providing top of the line equipment either
The ones the VA gave me are Oticon, and when I got them, they were probably the best money could buy. They will stream audio from an i-phone and I even got a streaming box to stream from my tv and stereo. The VA furnishes all batteries and consumable items associated with the hearing aids at no cost to me.
Mine are made by Phonak and I'm more than pleased with my hearing aids from the VA.
Being curious after receiving my hearing aids I checked online and also called a local hearing aid store and they told me that they were of extremely good quality and would have cost me aprox. $3500.00 out of pocket if I had not received them through the VA.