VSRs serve as the primary contact for the Veteran and their representative and the decision-maker for compensation or pension claims. The VSR works in the Veterans Service Center (VSC) or Pension Management Center (PMC). The VSR explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria, conducts interviews, identifies issues, gathers relevant evidence, adjudicates claims, and inputs data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the Veteran describing the decision and the reason.

Duties

The Veterans Service Representative (VSR) explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria, analyzes claims material, identifies issues, gathers relevant evidence, conducts interviews to adjudicate claims and inputs data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the veteran describing the decision. Specifically, the VSR will: Make determinations as to the eligibility for the type of benefit sought to include questions relating to adequacy of military service, medical evidence, and the evaluation of evidence of income, employability, dependence, and relationship. Request examinations, re-examination, or opinions to evaluate disabilities resulting from diseases or injuries. Review claims cases to assure all issues have been addressed, applies, and interprets VA laws, including veterans' case law, existing statutes and procedures, precedent rulings, and state law in the adjudication process. May conduct interviews in person or by phone with veterans, representatives, and advocates to explain the full range of VA benefits and related programs. Prepare and release correspondence for use by other federal, state, and local agencies. Utilize various electronic data processing (DEPP) systems to input data for processing claims and generating automated correspondence. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm TELEWORK ELIGIBLE: Yes per Agency guidelines. This is not a Remote Work Position Position Description Title/PD#: Veterans Service Representative/PD37301A 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.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, SF 50 etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 10/11/2023. Specialized Experience: GS-09: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-07 level in the Federal service that include: Interpreting laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence to make with recommendations; and Following procedures to process eligibility claims for benefits such as but not limited to: disability, worker, and unemployment insurance compensation, insurance, loans, education, or retirement programs. Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience for the GS-09 level. To qualify based on education you must have: 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 Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you can only use graduate level education that you have earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. For example, an applicant who has 24 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required above the first 18 credits required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position. GS-10: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal or other services that include: Asking questions relating to military service or medical evidence to make determinations as to the eligibility for programs; Reviewing claims or cases to assure all laws have been addressed in the adjudication process; and Informing claimants of all evidence requirements needed to further process a claim for benefits and/or services. Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience for the GS-10 level. To qualify based on education you must have: 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 Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you can only use graduate level education that you have earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. For example, an applicant who has 24 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required above the first 18 credits required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for 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.

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 with your application to verify your qualifications.

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 and GS-10. 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/.

Contacts

• Address Boston Regional Benefit Office JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St Boston, MA 02203-9928 US
• Name: Kevin Borth
• Phone: 6173034251
• Email: [email protected]