Veterans Claims Examiner

Summary

This position is located in the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Compensation Service (CS). The incumbent focuses on the improvement in national accuracy/consistency in the claims process of benefits delivered to Veterans and their families. Conducts Systematic Technical Accuracy Reviews (STAR) process, and applies special focus reviewing and assisting field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

03/22/2024 to 04/02/2024

• Salary

$88,520 - $115,079 per year

The rate of pay will differ depending on the location where the selectee is placed.

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Locations

1 vacancy in the following locations:

• Denver, CO

• Washington, DC

• Nashville, TN

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes-You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0996 Veterans Claims Examining

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

101-CS-12363267-24-MM

• Control number

783038400

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open ONLY to current, permanent Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible.

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Duties

MAJOR DUTIES:

• In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the administration of claims for VA compensation and related benefits.

• Serves as a reviewer for national STAR and special focus reviews and assists field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training.

• Authority to make technical, and administrative decisions with regulatory/statutory guide, regulations, policies, procedures and/or instructions to carry out the functions which support operations delivery.

• Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as internet tools, manuals and other reference material.

• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statues, which may impact or shapes the future direction of the organization.

• Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases and national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural and operational aspects of CS. The incumbent may act for their immediate supervisor when called upon to do so.

Promotion Potential: This position is at the Full Performance Level (GS-13).

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 07:30am

• 4:00pm

Compressed/Flexible: Not Available.

Telework: Available, as determined by the agency policy.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. This is not a remote position.

Position Description/PD#: Veterans Claims Examiner; PD# 39859-A; GS-0996-13

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized: Relocation expenses and services (Permanent Change of Station

• PCS) are authorized for this recruitment. PCS is the relocation of a household due to government convenience in connection with the transfer between duty stations or facilities. In consideration of the payment of expenses for travel and transportation, the selectee agrees to remain in federal service for twelve (12) months following the date of transfer. Failure to complete all conditions of the obligated service may result in repayment of travel/transportation expenses. Click here for more information.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:04/02/2024.

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.

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.

• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

GS-13 Grade Level:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED): The applicant must document knowledge of a complex field of laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of veterans benefits and a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs to be able to explain them, both orally and in writing, to individuals of all educational backgrounds. Experience is shown by having been a Senior Veterans Service Representative (SVSR), or Authorization Quality Review Specialist (AQRS) within the last three years.

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: Work is primarily sedentary, but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual

dexterity and visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required. Occasional standing, bending,

walking, and stooping are also necessary. No special physical demands are required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There are no educational substitutions or requirements at the GS-13 grade level.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants who do not fully address the specialized experience needed for the position (as described above in the job announcement) in their resume will not be referred for consideration.

After you have met the minimum qualifications, you will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

• Veterans Benefits: Knowledge of the statutes, court decisions, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to the adjudication of Veterans' claims for compensation and related benefits.

• Research and Analytical Skills: Ability to perform substantial research and rewriting to organize, balance and complete written materials to meet publishing and distribution objectives; analyzes data from all angels to create thorough and complete publications.

• Communication: Ability to establish and maintain effective communication (oral and written) with persons both at all organizational levels and with officials of other departments and agencies on policy, technical and administrative matters.

• Knowledge Sharing: Uses formal, informal, and systematic methods to recognize opportunities to impact information to increase organization effectiveness and accomplish objectives.

• Analyzation: Ability to analyze (i.e. review and evaluate), comprehend, and apply decisions derived from a variety of data or complex information.

• Software Applications: Ability to use standard PC based office software applications such as word processing, email and spreadsheets.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.