Veterans Service Representative (Rating) (Hiring Immediately)

Veterans Service Representative (Rating) The Veterans Benefits Administration was seeking Rating Veterans Service Representatives to work in a Veterans Service Center, Pension Management Center, or Integrated Disability Evaluation System Program Division. The Rating Veterans Service Representative serves as a decision maker for claims involving rating decisions, analyzes evidence, applies VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities, determines entitlement to benefits, and prepares rating decisions explaining the decision and the reasons behind it. Agency: Veterans Benefits Administration Location: Hartford County, CT; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Togus, ME; Detroit, MI; Overland, MO; Manchester, NH; Buffalo, NY; New York, NY; Cleveland, OH; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Providence County, RI; White River Junction, VT; or Milwaukee, WI Vacancies: Many vacancies Salary: $61,722 - $137,128 per year Salary Note: Salary varies by location. Applicants should refer to OPM locality pay tables for the specific salary applicable to each listed location. Pay Scale & Grade: GS-9 to GS-12 Promotion Potential: GS-12 Grade Progression: GS-9 / GS-10 / GS-11 / GS-12 Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Appointment Type: Permanent Telework: Not available Remote/Virtual: Not available Travel Required: Occasional travel; selected applicants are required to attend an 8-week training session, which may require travel Relocation Expenses: Not reimbursed Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Drug Test: Not required Security Clearance: Other Position Sensitivity/Risk: Noncritical-Sensitive / Moderate Risk Background Check: Suitability/Fitness required Financial Disclosure: Not required Federal Service: Competitive Service Union Representation: Yes Supervisory Status: No Key Responsibilities: Serve as a Rating Veterans Service Representative in a Veterans Service Center, Pension Management Center, or Integrated Disability Evaluation System Program Division. Serve as a decision maker for claims involving rating decisions. Analyze claims to determine whether diseases and injuries were incurred in or aggravated by military service in the line of duty. Determine entitlement for compensation, hospital treatment, prosthetic appliances, related employment and compensation benefits, pension, vocational training, medical and dental treatment, automobiles or other conveyances, insurance, specially adapted housing, dependent education allowances, and other ancillary benefits. Determine the need for examinations or re-examinations for Veterans and dependents. Determine permanent incapacity and/or competency of Veterans and dependents. Apply VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Prepare rating decisions informing the Veterans Service Representative and/or claimant of the decision and the reasons and basis for it. Communicate directly with Veterans and their representatives or advocates when required by the circumstances of the claim. Basic Conditions of Employment: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Must meet time-in-grade requirements, if currently a federal GS employee. Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959. Subject to background/security investigation. Must complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable identification is required for pre-employment verification. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued IDs that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be used as acceptable identification for employment. Selected applicant may be required to serve a one-year probationary period. RVSR Skill Certification is required at the GS-12 level. Selected applicant must attend an 8-week training session, which may require travel. Eligibility: This announcement was open only to current, permanent Veterans Benefits Administration employees. Current or former Department of Veterans Affairs employees who are CTAP eligible were also eligible. Applicants were required to submit appropriate SF-50 documentation to verify status, time-in-grade, and eligibility. Current VBA employees outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to a lower grade through this announcement were required to currently hold at least GS-9, with a current position promotion potential of at least GS-12. Time-in-Grade Requirements: GS-9: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 level. GS-10: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9 level. GS-11: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 level. GS-12: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. An SF-50 showing time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with the application. If the most recent SF-50 does not clearly show one year of time-in-grade, an additional SF-50 must be submitted. GS-9 Qualification Requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-7. Specialized experience includes gathering or requesting evidence to respond to claimant inquiries for federal, state, or local benefits such as burial benefits, education benefits, monetary benefits, welfare benefits, housing benefits, or other benefit programs. Examples include gathering and requesting evidence to build case files, responding to claimant inquiries, and identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions. Education may substitute for experience at this grade: master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related. GS-10 Qualification Requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-9. Specialized experience includes assisting claimants with applications for federal, state, or local benefits and identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions in federal or state-administered benefits request packages. Examples include explaining decisions to claimants, customers, special interest groups, dependents, and/or representatives to help them understand determinations. Education may substitute for experience at this grade: two and a half years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D., LL.M., or equivalent doctoral degree, if the education demonstrates the competencies needed for the work. GS-11 Qualification Requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-10. Specialized experience includes explaining federal or state-administered benefits decisions to claimants and evaluating evidence and allegations to draw sound conclusions regarding benefit claims. Examples include determining eligibility for federal or state-administered benefits such as disability, education, housing, medical, or Veterans' benefits. Examples also include applying federal and state laws to process claims involving a service, disability, or benefit program. Education may substitute for experience at this grade: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. GS-12 Qualification Requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11. Specialized experience includes determining eligibility for federal, state, or locally administered benefits such as disability, education, housing, medical, and/or Veterans' benefits. Specialized experience also includes applying federal or state laws to process claims involving employment, disability, or benefit programs. Examples include processing claims for workers' compensation benefits and determining appropriateness and claim amounts. There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level. Education: Transcripts were required if using education to qualify. Education must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be supported by a certificate of foreign equivalency if used to meet qualification requirements. Unofficial transcripts were accepted at application, but official documentation may be required before appointment. Physical Requirements: Work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. Work is mostly sedentary. Employee typically sits comfortably to perform the work. Some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items such as papers or books may be required. Evaluation Criteria: Applicants were evaluated based on application materials, responses to the questionnaire, and required assessments. Competencies assessed included attention to detail, customer service, decision making, flexibility, integrity/honesty, interpersonal skills, learning, reading comprehension, reasoning, self-management, stress tolerance, and teamwork. USA Hire Assessments included a cut score based on minimum required proficiency in critical general competencies. Applicants who scored below the cut score or failed to complete the assessment were not considered. Required USA Hire Assessments had to be completed within the required timeframe after notification. Required Documents: Resume limited to two pages, detailing specialized experience and competencies related to the position. For each position listed on the resume, start and end dates by month and year were required. Federal positions listed on the resume should include grade level. Most recent non-award SF-50 showing proof of status, position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service. SF-50 showing when the applicant entered the highest grade to verify time-in-grade requirements. Transcript reflecting degree, coursework, total credits earned, graduation date, and degree, if using education to qualify. Most recent performance appraisal, if applicable. CTAP documentation, if applicable, including RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee status, and performance appraisal. Additional supporting documents as applicable. Benefits: Comprehensive federal benefits package. Eligibility for benefits depends on appoi