Incumbent serves as the Exam Liaison, receiving and responding to inquiries related to VA exam requests. Incumbent independently analyzes VA exams submitted by claims processors and responds to inquiries and questions from the staff at the VAMC. Routinely collaborates with other members of the work team, including VSRs, RVSRs, DROs, and members of the Management Staff, and will also be available to discuss claims with Veterans Service Organization (VSO} representatives.

Duties

Major Duties: Analyzes claims for temporary increased evaluations due to hospital adjustments and the need for routine future exams. Routinely collaborates with other members of his/her work team, including Veterans Service Representatives (VSR), Rating VSRs (RVSR), Decision Review Officers (DRO), and members of the Management Staff, and will also be available to discuss claims with Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives. Gives training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices and maintains a good working knowledge of VA benefits, procedures, policies, directives, etc. Serves as the station trainer for courses dealing with ordering exams and the Exam Management System (EMS). Requests and recommends methods to overcome problems with exams that create deferrals and rework to the VSC Manager and Assistant VSC Manager. Reviews exam requests to ensure they are appropriate and accurate; and he/she answers any questions from physicians related to the exam request including providing clarification of exams and verifying the correct exams and/or tests are ordered with the correct verbiage; obtaining and identifying pertinent VBMS records; answering questions that arise during an exam; and explaining Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) requirements and rating criteria. Directly communicates and interacts with Veterans to facilitate timely, proper decisions. As dictated by the circumstances of each case, the Exam Liaison may conduct interviews in person or by telephone with Veterans, eligible individuals, representatives, and advocates to obtain or clarify information. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Yes Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist GS-301-12; 38337A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

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 a background/security investigation
• 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, 08/13/2024. Time-In-Grade: 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. The grade may have been in any occupation and must have been held in the Federal service. A SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status (career, career-conditional, or excepted service), time in grade requirements have been met, and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate possession of time in grade requirements. In this instance, you must also submit your most recent Promotion or Within Grade Increase SF-50, or a Promotion or Within Grade Increase SF-50 that indicates the highest grade/step previously held. DO NOT submit Award SF-50s and/or General Adjustment SF-50s as they cannot be used to verify time in grade. Note: Time in grade requirements apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and current employees applying using the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 eligibility. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as as that experience which equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary requiring no special physical abilities. The employee sits comfortably to do the work, however, there may be some walking, standing, or carrying of light items such as manuals or files.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Buffalo Regional Benefit Office 130 S. Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, NY 14202 US
• Name: Nora Ziomek
• Phone: 716-857-3000 X4413
• Email: [email protected]