This position is established at less than full performance level for recruitment and training purposes. It is targeted to position description (PD) number 02104A, Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR), GS-0996-12. It is designed to provide candidates with exposure to all sorts of claims that a journeyman RVSR would process but with the opportunity for increased training, review, supervision, and guidance.
Summary
This position is established at less than full performance level for recruitment and training purposes. It is targeted to position description (PD) number 02104A, Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR), GS-0996-12. It is designed to provide candidates with exposure to all sorts of claims that a journeyman RVSR would process but with the opportunity for increased training, review, supervision, and guidance.
This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent employees of the Baltimore, MD VBA Regional Office and the National Capital Region Benefits Office (NCRBO) as well as current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible. For the purpose of this job announcement, Fiduciary Hub bargaining unit employees in the commuting area are considered facility employees.
The Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) works as a member of the Intake Processing Center or in special missions of the Veterans Service Center. The incumbent serves as a decision maker for claims involving rating decisions. The incumbent determines service-connection, percentage of disability, permanent and total disability, entitlement to compensation, pension, vocational training, medical and dental treatment, automobiles, or other conveyances, insurance, specially adapted housing, dependent education allowances, and other ancillary benefits. Specifically, the RVSR will:
Analyze claims to determine if diseases and injuries were incurred in or aggravated by the military service in the line of duty for purposes of compensation, hospital treatment, prosthetic appliances, and related employment and compensation benefits.
Determine a need for examinations or re-examinations for observations of Veterans and their dependents and the character of such examinations.
Determine the permanent incapacity and/or the competency of Veterans and their dependents.
Apply VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule) and prepare rating decisions informing the Veterans Service Representative and/or claimant of the decision and reasons and basis for it.
As dictated by the circumstances of the claims case, may directly communicate and interact with Veterans and their representatives/advocates.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is GS-09/10/11/12.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Veterans Service Representative (Rating), 32104A, 22104A, 12104A, 02104A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
You may be required to serve a probationary period
Subject to background/security investigation
Required to attend an 8 week training session, which may require travel.
RVSR Skill Certification required at the GS-12 level.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:02/23/2022.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.
For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level.
For a GS-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 level.
For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-09 Grade Level:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as experience which required interpretation of evidence (medical, benefit and/or legal documentation) to assist in preparation of legal cases, to determine eligibility of benefits/services or to assist in performing clinical research, clinical or physiological studies, evaluations, or medical treatment. Examples of experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
Determining the eligibility for federal or state-administered benefits, such as: disability, education, housing, medical and/or veterans' benefits;
Applying federal and state laws to process claims pertaining to a service, disability or benefit program;
Gathering and requesting evidence to build service program case files, respond to claimant inquiries, and identify errors, inconsistencies or omissions;
Explaining decisions to claimants, customers, special interest groups, dependents and/or representatives in an effort to gain understanding of determinations;
Processing claims for eligibility for workers' compensation benefits to determine appropriateness and amount of worker's compensation claims;
Performing, ordering and/or evaluating diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition, report symptoms or changes in patients' condition, maintain accurate detailed reports/charts.
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-9 grade level.
Master's or equivalent graduate degree; or
Two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related
GS-10 Grade Level:
Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required at the GS-09 level, to qualify at the GS-10 grade level, specialized experience must demonstrate: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade in the Federal Service reading and interpreting Federal benefits laws, rules and regulations to prepare claims rating decisions and explaining the decisions to individuals of various educational backgrounds.
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-10 grade level.
2.5 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a Ph.D., LL.M. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. OR
GS-11 Grade Level:
Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required at the GS-10 level, to qualify at the GS-11 grade level, specialized experience must demonstrate: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level in Federal Service assessing sources of evidence (to include anatomy, physiology, diseases and disability documentation) to arrive at rating decisions, reading and interpreting medical and legal terminology, composing official documentation regarding a wide range of Veterans benefits laws and regulations that pertain to the entitlement for and award process of each VA benefit program.
Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-11 grade level.
Education substitution of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree; OR
Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related. OR
GS-12 Grade Level:
Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required at the GS-11 level, to qualify at the GS-12 grade level, specialized experience must demonstrate: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in Federal Service rating the full range of Veterans benefits claims cases from the least to the most complex.
Note: There is no educational substitution at the GS-12 grade level.
Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary.
Education
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.
Additional information
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a Federal job announcement includes the requirement that applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to E.O. 14043, that requirement does not currently apply. Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.
PandemicTeleworkProgram
Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.
VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:
REASONING: Identifies regulations, laws, rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
DECISION MAKING: Makes sound, well-informed and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action even in uncertain situations in order to assist customers and meet organizational goals.
SELF-MANAGEMENT: Displays a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing claims and other assignments in a timely manner; works independently with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; sets well-defined and realistic goals that are in alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: Recognizes and uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
ORAL COMMUNICATION: Express information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; listens to others; asks questions and gains or shares information.
PROBLEM SOLVING: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations..
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.
Resume detailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you should also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including documentation supporting Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
Your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements.
Transcript (if using education to qualify).
Your transcript must show coursework and the total number of credits earned to include graduation date and degree. A diploma is NOT sufficient to determine qualifications.
Additional Documents accepted:
Award SF-50s
CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal
Please use this checklist to make sure you have included all documents required for your application. You will not be contacted for additional information.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 02/23/2022 to receive consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11366060.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
Baltimore Regional Benefit Office
31 Hopkins Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21201
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.
Resume detailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you should also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including documentation supporting Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
Your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements.
Transcript (if using education to qualify).
Your transcript must show coursework and the total number of credits earned to include graduation date and degree. A diploma is NOT sufficient to determine qualifications.
Additional Documents accepted:
Award SF-50s
CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal
Please use this checklist to make sure you have included all documents required for your application. You will not be contacted for additional information.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 02/23/2022 to receive consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11366060.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
Baltimore Regional Benefit Office
31 Hopkins Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21201
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
