Veterans Service Representative (Rating)

Veterans Benefits Administration • Baltimore, MD

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) analyzes claims, applies the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, and prepares rating decisions explaining the determination and its reasons and basis to Veterans Service Representatives and/or claimants. The position serves as a decision maker for claims requiring rating decisions, determining service connection, disability percentages, permanent and total disability, and entitlement to compensation and related benefits. These benefits may include pension, vocational training, medical and dental treatment, automobiles or other conveyances, insurance, specially adapted housing, dependent education allowances, and other ancillary benefits.

The RVSR may communicate directly with Veterans and their representatives or advocates, as circumstances require. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is not available. Situational (ad hoc) telework may be approved case by case with supervisory approval; employees must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday, and routine or recurring telework is not authorized. This is not a virtual position. The grade progression is GS-9/10/11/12; promotion to the full performance level may occur without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met, but selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion.

The selectee must serve a one-year probationary period, attend an eight-week training session that may require travel, and obtain RVSR Skill Certification at the GS-12 level. A background/security investigation is required. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized, and a financial disclosure report is not required.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement if a current Federal employee who held a GS grade within the past 52 weeks.
• Must meet the specialized experience or education qualification requirements for the selected grade level (GS-9 through GS-12).
• GS-9: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7, or qualifying related graduate education or a related LL.B./J.D.; qualifying examples include gathering or requesting evidence for benefit case files and identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions.
• GS-10: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9, or qualifying graduate education; experience includes assisting claimants with benefit applications and identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions in benefit request packages.
• GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-10, or a qualifying Ph.D./doctoral degree or related LL.M.; experience includes explaining benefits decisions and evaluating evidence and allegations to reach sound conclusions.
• GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11; experience includes determining eligibility for benefits and applying federal or state laws to process claims. There is no education substitution at this grade.
• Education used to qualify must be supported by transcripts; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.
• Must complete a one-year probationary period and may be required to serve a probationary or trial period.
• Must undergo a background/security investigation.
• Must attend an eight-week training session, which may require travel.
• RVSR Skill Certification is required at the GS-12 level.
• Selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment I-9 requirements.
• Part-time qualifying experience is credited on a prorated basis, and applicants must specify average hours worked per week.

Responsibilities

• Analyze claims and determine whether diseases or injuries were incurred in or aggravated by military service in the line of duty for compensation, hospital treatment, prosthetic appliances, and related employment and compensation benefits.
• Determine the need for examinations or re-examinations of Veterans and their dependents, including the character of those examinations.
• Determine permanent incapacity and/or competency of Veterans and their dependents.
• Apply the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities and prepare rating decisions explaining the decision, reasons, and basis to the Veterans Service Representative and/or claimant.
• Determine service connection, disability percentage, permanent and total disability, and 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.
• Communicate and interact directly with Veterans and their representatives or advocates as circumstances require.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package is available to eligible employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type.
• VA may offer newly appointed Federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval is required and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed