This position is located in a Department of Veterans Affairs, Togus Regional Office. The Veterans Service Representative (Rating) (RVSR) analyzes claims, applies VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule), and determines service-connection, percentage of disability, permanent and total disability, entitlement to compensation, pension, vocational training,

Duties

This position is established at less than full performance level for recruitment and training purposes. It is targeted to position description number 32104A, 22104A, 12104A ,02104A, Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR), GS-0996-12. It is designed to provide candidates with exposure to all of claims that a journeyman RVSR would process but with the opportunity for increased training, review, supervision, and guidance. The (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: 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

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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.
• 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: 04/09/2024. 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 (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, VRA, or 30% or more disabled Veterans). For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. If you are a current VBA employee outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-09 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience GS9 grade level: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level or higher in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. 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 include: 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. Specialized Experience: 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: Assisting claimants with applications for federal, state, or local benefits in areas such as but not limited to: burial benefits, education benefits, monetary benefits, welfare benefits, housing benefits and various other federal, state, or local programs; and Identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions in federal or state-administered benefits request 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. Specialized Experience: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: Explaining federal or state-administered benefits decisions to claimants to help them gain an understanding of claim determinations; and 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: Determining the eligibility for federal, state, or local administered benefits, such as: disability, education, housing, medical and/or veterans' benefits; and Applying federal or state laws to process claims pertaining to a employment, disability or benefit program. 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. 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.

Contacts

• Address Togus VA Medical/Regional Benefit Office Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: Mary Chavez
• Phone: 515-323-7575
• Email: [email protected]