Veterans Service Representative

VETERANS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVEGS 0996 07 (TARGET GS 09/10)Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 663651 (Include on all Documents)OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities.As a Veterans Service Representative you will work on veterans benefits claims and provide comprehensive services to America's Veteran's and their families. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go tohttp://w.vacareers.va.govIndividual(s) selected for this position must be available to attend a mandatory 8 week consecutive training session. This training may require official government travel away from the permanent duty station to a different city and/or state. Flexitour is not available during training.KEY REQUIREMENTS* You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.* You may be subject to a background/suitability investigation.* Promotion may be contingent upon passing a certification exam.* You must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.* May be required to attend off site training, which may require travel.* You may be required to serve a probationary period.DUTIES:Back to topThis position is located in the Veterans Benefits Administration, Baltimore Regional Office, Baltimore, MD. Major Duties: The Veterans Service Representative (VSR) works as an employee in the Veterans Service Center (VSC) or Pension Management Center (PMC). The VSR explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria, conducts interviews, identifies issues, gathers relevant evidence, adjudicates claims, and inputs data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the veteran describing the decision and the reason for it. Specific duties are the following: Serves as a primary contact for the veteran and his/her representative or advocate and the decision maker for compensation or pension claims. Explains the full range of VA benefits and all related programs. Makes determinations as to eligibility for the type of benefit sought and fully analyzes, develops, and requests required evidence for certain claims requiring a rating decision. Decides the necessity for and type of examinations, reexamination or opinions to determine the existence of or to evaluate disabilities resulting from diseases or injuries. Develops comprehensive requests for these examinations/opinions to ensure appropriate evidence is received from which to adjudicate the claim. Prepares correspondence to members of Congress and special interest groups on case assignments and other controlled correspondence. Reviews all correspondence to private attorneys; acknowledges and revokes designations for private attorneys. Utilizes various electronic data processing (EDP) systems for inputting data related to claims adjudication, processing, monitoring, and correspondence preparation. Acts as an advocate for veterans and their beneficiaries in their dealings with other VA elements and organizations that affect their claims.QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to topTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by Thursday, May 17, 2012.Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:* Technical assignments that are related to claims or benefits processing or eligibility determination;* The interpretation of laws, rules, and/or regulations and the analysis of documents to determine eligibility for benefits, quality assurance or perform auditor functions.Such experience may have been gained in:* Claims processing for a State or Federal Agency, Insurance Company, Worker's Compensation, Disability Retirement, or Pension Program;* Human Resources positions which involved determining Employment Qualifications, Job Classification, or determining eligibility for benefits;* Quality Assurance Specialist;* AuditorORAt the GS 07 level, applicants may substitute one full year of graduate level education or have a Bachelors degree AND meet Superior Academic Achievement criteria. Superior Academic Achievement is based on a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 (B or better) as recorded on the official transcript or as computed based on four years of education; Class Standingupper third of the graduating class in college, university, or major subdivision such as College of Liberal Arts or School of Business Administration; or Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Applicants must provide documentation (transcript or letter from Dean or Registrar or honor society) to receive consideration.When qualifying based on education, a copy of all undergraduate/graduate level transcripts must accompany the application package by the closing date of the announcement.OR Applicants may alsocombine education and experienceto qualify. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you 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 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position.A transcript must be submitted with your application by the closing date of the announcement if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You will be rated on the following competencies as demonstrated in your resume for this position.* Ability to interpret and analyze material and make well justified decisions from the analysis.* Skill in writing that reflects organization of subject matter and support for your position and conclusions.* Ability to effectively communicate orally with people of varying backgrounds.* Ability to effectively work with others in a team environment.* Ability to determine priorities and successfully balance conflicting demands. 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 competencies; completion of a work sample, and/or be contacted for an interview.IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).Time in Grade Requirements (For Transfer/Current federal employees and Reinstatement Eligibles): Applicants must meet time in grade requirements of the position by the closing date of this announcement; i.e., at least 52 weeks of federal service at the GS 05 level to qualify for the GS 07 level.APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications