WARTAC is a SkillBridge education and potential employment opportunity for Wounded Warriors and transitioning Service members to complete a national-level VBA training program while still on active duty. Successful completion of this training program leads to an opportunity for Service members to be interviewed and potentially hired at one of VBA's 55 Regional Offices around the country.

Duties

As a Rating Veterans Service Representative you will rate veterans benefits claims and provide comprehensive services to America's veterans and their families. The incumbent may be promoted to the full performance level (GS-12) without further competition after meeting time-in-grade and specialized experience requirements. Upon attaining the GS-12 grade level, the incumbent will be required to take the Rating VSR Skills Certification test. The Rating Veterans Service Representative analyzes claims, applies VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule), and prepares rating decisions informing the VSR and/or claimant of the decision, the bases, and reason for it. The Rating VSR routinely collaborates with other members of his/her work team, including Veterans Service Representatives and the Decision Review Officers, and will also be available to discuss claims with Veterans Service Organization representatives. The Rating VSR may directly interact with the veteran and his/her representative or advocate when it expedient and assures world-class customer service.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 11/17/2023. The Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC) is a pilot program sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD), to train wounded warriors and transitioning Servicemembers to process VA disability claims. This 14-week training program provides participants with an opportunity to learn the skill set of a VA Veteran Service Representative (VSR) or Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR). The ultimate goal is to hire participants as a VSR or RVSR at VBA Regional Offices. Consequently, participants must meet performance standards, which include production and quality elements. WARTAC is open to Wounded Warriors and active duty Servicemembers in the transition process (within 90 to 120 days of discharge). In accordance with the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, transitioning Servicemembers must: Meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the job opportunity; Submit certification on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and the character of service; and Separate from the armed forces within 120 days after the date of the certification submission. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability to analyze evidence (medical, benefit and/or legal documents), interpret and apply laws, regulations, and official guidance sufficient to evaluate the adequacy of collected information to determine claimant eligibility for benefits and services. Examples of specialized experience include, but not limited to: Interpreting and applying laws, regulations and policies in the management and processing of medical and benefit service claims. Reviewing and analyzing medical and legal evidence to make determinations as to the entitlement and/or eligibility for benefits and services. Developing case file records and reports to support claim decisions. OR 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 OR Applicants may combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-09 grade level: When substituting you can only use graduate level education you have earned. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education 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 27 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education in excess of the first 18 semester credit hours earned) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the GS-09 grade 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. Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. The position involves work that is mainly sedentary but requires some bending, walking, standing and lifting/carrying (under 15lb) of supplies, patient records, staff and patient mail. Some assignments may involve more frequent walking, but these assignments may involve more frequent walking, but these assignments require no unusual physical demands to perform work. The incumbent will need to have the ability to verbally communicate and hear (aid permitted) using a telephone and must be able to type and operate computer equipment as an essential part of their position. The incumbent must be able to work closely with internal and external customers in a face-to-face setting. Work Environment: The position may at times involve exposure to a work environment that may include intermittent excessive noise, dust, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around moving objects or vehicles. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website here and here.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 Baltimore Regional Benefit Office 31 Hopkins Plaza Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Jennifer Burns
• Phone: 307-675-7117
• Email: [email protected]