Hi,
Afaik there are different definations of the Va(manouvering speed).
1. maximum speed [at a particular weight] at which full deflection of the controls can be made without exceeding the design limit load factor and damaging the airplane’s primary structure” and Va is the maximum recommended speed for turbulent air penetration.
2. Va is the speed below which our aircraft will stall rather than bend or break.
Regarding 1. the weight is not direct related, rather the construction. Weight can be a indicator for a rough construction, but weight also stress the construction.
Regarding 2. a faster Va of course is a advantage, same like a higher stallspeed in general, but also this dont have to do with weight, rather with liftload and spanload etc.
What i forgot is the Vmax(dive), if the construction allow high mach numbers(in case of the P38 this dont seems to be always the case, so the high weight dont help here).
Greetings,
Knegel