This position is under the Office of Administrative Review (OAR) located in a Decision Review Operations Center (DROC). The primary purpose for this position is to receive notices of dissatisfaction from Veterans and advocates. The incumbent is authorized to review the determination made by the VSR or RVSR, including the facts and evidence submitted in support of the claim and is empowered to uphold or overturn the decision.
Summary
This position is under the Office of Administrative Review (OAR) located in a Decision Review Operations Center (DROC). The primary purpose for this position is to receive notices of dissatisfaction from Veterans and advocates. The incumbent is authorized to review the determination made by the VSR or RVSR, including the facts and evidence submitted in support of the claim and is empowered to uphold or overturn the decision.
This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Decision Review Operations Center - District of Columbia (DROC-DC) employees and 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.
Receives notices of dissatisfaction from Veterans and advocates and is empowered to review decisions made by the VSR or RVSR, including the facts and evidence submitted in support of the claim. Upholds or overturns decisions based on difference of opinion.
Conducts informal hearings to obtain additional information from Veterans and/or advocate. Sustain or change decisions based on additional information gathered.
In cases of continued dissatisfaction by a Veteran, works with the Veteran and advocate/representative to focus the issue and clearly explain a decision in an effort to resolve the dissatisfaction.
Issues revised decisions based on the facts and evidence considered by the previous decision maker which forms the basis for the claimant's dissatisfaction.
Interprets laws, rules, regulations, and agency instructions concerning the allowance or disallowance of claims.
Resolves issues with respect to legal entitlements of Veterans, their surviving spouses, and other beneficiaries. Decisions serve as a basis for payment or denial of benefits to claimants and for determination of the amounts payable or receivable.
Accountable for all decisions rendered which govern a wide variety of federal benefits including: Compensation, Pension, Dependency, Death, Surviving spouse/child, including child found permanently incapable of self support prior to 18th birthday, Special Monthly Compensation, Character of Discharge decisions, Burial, Educational for Veterans, surviving spouse and dependents, Vocational Rehabilitation, and additional claims processing.
Conducts post-decision reviews, identifies trends or out-of-line situations and reports the information to management officials.
Performs duties under the general administrative supervision of the DROC Manager or Assistant Manager. Interprets policy and determines the methods and contacts necessary that are supported by legislation and implementing agency directives including the Schedule for Rating Disabilities, VA regulations, manuals, bulletins, circulars, written instructions from centralized authority, and precedent decisions made in specific cases.
In adapting laws, court decisions, BVA and other guidelines, and procedures to specific case circumstances, exercises exceptional independent judgment, skills, and initiative.
With insufficient evidence to make an equitable decision, determines from a legal perspective what evidence is required, considers its feasibility, and initiates appropriate action to obtain it. Among the examples are specialized medical examinations, autopsy reports, hospital clinical records, field examinations, social and industrial surveys, observation periods in VA medical centers, employment records, wage and tax statements, loan applications, and school or vocational training records.
Handles cases that involve unusual issues or situations; the work is vital to how the agency serves the public. Determinations are final and binding, subject to formal appeal only to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. An award decision can involve large sums of money or a denial decision that can have serious adverse effects.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not applicable Virtual: Not applicable Position Description/PD#: Decision Review Officer; GS-13 - PD#41131-A 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
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:05/24/2024.
TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS-12 grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.
For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-13 Grade Level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12). Specialized Experience is defined as work that involves functioning in either a capacity performing training, analyst or information systems duties of a claims management process. The experience should be substantive and relevant and may have been gained in the federal, military, or private sector. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to:
Conducting reviews to analyze the quality of completed rated cases.
Conducting evaluations and reviews on a quantitative or qualitative basis of claims development programs and operations to determine the effectiveness in meeting established goals and objectives.
Preparing or conducting training activities.
Identifying knowledge/skill gaps and plan training strategies.
Providing and implementing data for one or more information management systems accurately and timely or providing technical guidance and direction to staff in the daily operation and maintenance of claims management systems.
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 is sedentary. It occasionally requires carrying of light objects such as files, books, and papers; some walking, standing, and bending. No special physical qualifications are required.
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. Applicants who do not fully address the specialized experience needed for the position (as described above in the job announcement) in their resume will not be referred for consideration. After you have met the minimum qualifications, you will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:
Organizational Awareness: Knows the organizations mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
Technical Competence: Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise (for example, engineering, physical science, law, or accounting); maintains credibility with others on technical matters.
Technology Awareness: Knowledge of developments and new applications of information technology (hardware, software, telecommunications), emerging technologies and their applications to business processes, and applications and implementation of information systems to meet organizational requirements.
Standards: Knowledge of standards that either are compliant with or derived from established standards or guidelines.
Quality Assurance: Knowledge of principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance and quality control used to ensure a product fulfills functional requirements and standards.
Written Communication: Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a succinct and organized manner.
Project Management: Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
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.
Additional Documents accepted:
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.
To receive consideration, your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59pm (EST) on 05/24/2024 or on the day the applicant count limit is reached, whichever comes first. 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/12409758.
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.
Office of Administrative Review
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
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.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
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.
Additional Documents accepted:
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.
To receive consideration, your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59pm (EST) on 05/24/2024 or on the day the applicant count limit is reached, whichever comes first. 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/12409758.
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.
Office of Administrative Review
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20420
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.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
