Veterans Service Representative

Veterans Benefits Administration • Anchorage, AK

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Veterans Benefits Administration. Veterans Service Representatives work in a Veterans Service Center, Pension Management Center, Benefits Eligibility Support Team, or Integrated Disability Evaluation System Program Division. The role explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria; reviews claims; identifies issues; gathers evidence; conducts interviews; adjudicates claims; enters award data; and prepares decision letters for Veterans. The position may progress from GS-07 to GS-09 and GS-10, subject to regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Compressed or flexible schedules may be available. Situational (ad hoc) telework may be approved case by case with supervisory approval, but routine or recurring telework is not authorized; the employee must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. This is not a virtual position. An eight-week training session is required and may require travel. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Employment may require a one- or two-year probationary period, a background/security investigation, U.S. citizenship, and Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959. The work is mostly sedentary and involves primarily mental rather than physical exertion, though some walking, standing, and carrying light items may be required.

Requirements

• For GS-07, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05 or higher in a federal, state, or private setting, involving interpretation or application of laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence, make determinations, and research routine issues to resolve discrepancies.
• Qualifying experience may include applying laws, regulations, and policies to process compensation or benefits claims; determining employment qualifications or benefit eligibility; communicating decisions, reasons, bases, appeal rights, and evidence requirements in writing; and using electronic systems for claims processing, monitoring, and correspondence.
• Alternatively, one full year of graduate-level education demonstrating competencies necessary for the work, or a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (2.95 GPA or higher, class standing, or honor society membership). Education and experience may be combined to meet the qualification requirement.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must be able to complete required onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements and undergo a background/security investigation.
• Must attend an eight-week training session, which may require travel.
• A transcript is required if education is used to qualify; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Responsibilities

• Determine eligibility for the benefit sought, including adequacy of military service and evaluation of medical evidence, income, employability, dependency, and relationships.
• Request examinations, re-examinations, or opinions to evaluate disabilities resulting from diseases or injuries.
• Review claims to ensure all issues have been addressed and apply and interpret VA laws, case law, statutes, procedures, precedent rulings, and state law during adjudication.
• Conduct in-person or telephone interviews with Veterans, representatives, and advocates to explain VA benefits and related programs.
• Prepare and release correspondence for use by other federal, state, and local agencies.
• Use electronic data processing systems to enter claims data and generate award and notification letters explaining decisions and their reasons.
• Analyze claims materials, identify issues, gather relevant evidence, adjudicate claims, and prepare decision letters for Veterans.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, with benefits available to employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may, subject to request and approval before appointment, credit job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual rate.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level