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Veterans Service Representative (Rating)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration
Veterans Service Center (VSC) or Pension Management Center (PMC).
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) works as an employee in the Veterans Service Center (VSC), Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) program, or Pension Management Center (PMC). Selected candidates will participate in training for several months to obtain necessary skills to make or adjudicate rating disability determinations.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/18/2022 to 12/17/2022
Salary
$54,727 to - $103,176 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Locations
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Montgomery, AL
Anchorage, AK
Phoenix, AZ
Little Rock, AR
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DHA-11688182-23-CB
Control number
683660000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (COVID-19 - VA 003) in-accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) and 5 CFR 337.205(b)(1)-(4).

Duties

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Primary duties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Review and analyze complex medical information (i.e., diagnostic tests, office notes, operative reports, etc.) to determine service connection and disability entitlement.
  • Attends a comprehensive training program to learn medical terminology, VA regulations, how to critically analyze evidence, and apply the VA schedule of disabilities to render decisions on claims.
  • Assures proper application federal laws and regulations and other applicable instructions, and he or she is fully accountable for proper analysis, appropriate development, and final rating determinations.
  • Analyzes claims to determine if diseases and/or injuries were incurred or aggravated by military service for purposes of compensation, treatment, or hospitalization.
  • Determines service-connection, percentage of disability, permanent and total disability, and entitlement to compensation, pension, burial, dependency indemnity compensation, special monthly compensation and vocational training, medical and dental treatment, automobiles, or other conveyances, insurance, specially adapted housing, dependent education allowances, and other ancillary benefits.
  • Communicates and interacts with Veterans and their representatives/advocates to facilitate timely, proper decisions. As dictated by the circumstances of each case, the RVSR may conduct interviews or hearings in person or by telephone with Veterans, eligible individuals, representatives, and advocates to obtain or clarify information.
  • Participates in meetings, assists with training, and is expected to lend his/her expertise in developing VSRs' skills as they relate to evidence gathering for rating decisions.
  • Works independently as the decision maker on claims following training and a period of mentoring and working reviews to assess comprehension. A mentor will provide feedback on the quality of the RVSRs decisions.
  • Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Demonstrates excellent judgement, troubleshooting, problem solving, analysis and discretion.
  • Demonstrates the ability to handle work-related stress and multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Maintains professional client relationships
  • Supports the organization's quality program.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
TELEWORK ELIGIBLE: Yes, per Agency guidelines. This IS NOT a virtual position.
This is not a Remote Work Position

Position Description Title/PD#: Veterans Service Representative (Rating)/ 32104A, 32104A, 32104A, and 02104A
Physical Requirements: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion.
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.
Marketing Video Link: https://youtu.be/JRf2duGHHXM

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Bargaining Unit Position: YES
  • If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.
  • Applicants will be prevented from updating an application after submission.
  • Applicants will be prevented from updating assessment responses after application submission.

Qualifications

Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

To qualify for GS-09: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that includes the following:

  • Gathering and requesting evidence to build service program case files and to respond to claimant inquiries.
Examples of specialized experience include experience gained in the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, or authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension, and life insurance benefits. Specialized experience may have been gained in the practice of law or working in a federal or state agency, insurance company, retirement disability, or disability insurance program (This experience must be well documented in your resume or application package).
OR, A Master's or equivalent graduate degree, 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related fields of study. (You must provide transcripts);
OR, a combination of specialized experience and education as described, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.

To qualify for GS-10: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service that includes the following:
  • Performing, ordering and/or evaluating diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition, report symptoms or changes in patients? condition; and
  • Explaining decisions to claimants to help them gain an understanding of claim determinations.
Examples of specialized experience include experience gained in the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, or authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension, and life insurance benefits. Specialized experience may have been gained in the practice of law or working in a federal or state agency, insurance company, retirement disability, or disability insurance program (This experience must be well documented in your resume or application package).
OR, Two and a half years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position.
OR, a combination of specialized experience and education as described, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.

GS-11 grade level: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 level in the Federal service that includes the following:
  • 1) Working with various percentages of evaluations for disabilities to assist with benefit rate claims; and
  • 2) Evaluating evidence and allegations to draw sound conclusions regarding benefit claims
OR, Successfully completed aPh.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (Must submit transcripts.); or a combination of the required experience and education for this grade level.
OR, a combination of specialized experience and education as described, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement.

Specialized Experience: GS-12: You qualify for the GS-12 grade level if you possess one year of full-time specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience must include:
  • Using federal or state laws pertaining to compensation, pension to accurately rate claims; and
  • Working with disability charts or rating schedules, innumerable disabilities, and various percentages of evaluations for disabilities to verify benefit claims; and
  • Comparing medical reports and other evidence to the rating schedule to make sound rating decisions.
Examples of specialized experience include experience gained in the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, or authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension, and life insurance benefits. Specialized experience may have been gained in the practice of law or working in a federal or state agency, insurance company, retirement disability, or disability insurance program (This experience must be well documented in your resume or application package).

There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level.

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.

Education

If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Equivalent combinations of Specialized Experience and Graduate Education: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9,GS-10, and GS-11. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. 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.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

Additional information

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 following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.
The competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job are:

  • Decision Making
  • Oral Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Reasoning
  • Written Communication


Applicant lists will be evaluated for qualifications based on the schedule below.
  • 1st Cut-off on 11/07/2022
  • 2nd Cut-off on 11/27/2022
  • Final Cut-off on 12/17/2022
To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11688182.

Applicants will be referred based on the schedule above. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement reaches 12/17/2022.

Applicants will be prevented from updating an application after submission.

Applicants will be prevented from updating assessment responses after application submission

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