This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/612313600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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Summary
This position is established at less than full performance level for recruitment and training purposes. It is targeted to position description (PD) number 02104A, Rating Veteran Service Representative (RVSR), GS-0996-12. It is designed to provide candidates with exposure to all sorts of claims that a journeyman RVSR would process but with the opportunity for increased training, review, supervision, and guidance.
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Overview
- Hiring complete
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Open & closing dates
08/26/2021 to 09/16/2021
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Salary
$59,756 - $112,659 per year
In addition to the above salary, you will receive a Cost of Living Allowance. The 2021 COLA for Anchorage, AK is 2.86%.
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Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
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Location
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Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
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Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
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Appointment type
Permanent
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Work schedule
Full-time
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Service
Competitive
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Promotion potential
12
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Job family (Series)
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Supervisory status
No
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Security clearance
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Drug test
No
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Position sensitivity and risk
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Trust determination process
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Announcement number
463-21-RAN-11213966-BU
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Control number
612313600
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This job is open to
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Internal to an agency
Current federal employees of this agency.
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Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
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. For the purpose of this job announcement, Fiduciary Hub bargaining unit employees in the commuting area are considered facility employees.
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Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Veterans Service Representative (Rating), 32104A, 22104A, 12104A, 02104A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Duties
The Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) works in concert with members of his/her team or other Veteran Service Center (VSC) teams as a decision maker for claims involving rating decisions. The incumbent is responsible for analyzing claims to make determinations regarding service-connection, percentage of disability, permanent and total disability and entitlement to compensation, pension and vocational training, medical and dental treatment, automobiles or other conveyances, insurance, specially adapted housing, dependent education allowances, and other ancillary benefits. The Rating VSR assures proper application of VA laws and regulations and is accountable for proper analysis, appropriate development and final rating determinations. Specifically, the RVSR will:
- Analyze claims to determine if diseases and injuries were incurred in or aggravated by the military service in the line of duty for purposes of compensation, pension, hospital and out-patient treatment, prosthetic appliances, vocational training and related employment and compensation benefits.
- Determine a need for examinations or re-examinations for observations of Veterans and their dependents and the character of such examinations.
- Determine the permanent incapacity and/or the competency of Veterans and their dependents.
- Apply VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule) and prepare rating decisions informing the Veterans Service Representative and/or claimant of the decision and reasons and basis for it.
- As dictated by the circumstances of the claims case, may directly communicate and interact with Veterans and their representatives/advocates.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Veterans Service Representative (Rating), 32104A, 22104A, 12104A, 02104A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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
- Required to attend an 8 week training session, which may require travel.
- RVSR Skill Certification required at the GS-12 level.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:09/16/2021.
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.
If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-09 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-09 Grade Level:
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: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary.
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.
- For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level.
- For a GS-10 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
- For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 level.
- For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level
If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-09 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
GS-09 Grade Level:
- Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level or higher in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience which required interpretation of evidence (medical, benefit and/or legal documentation) to assist in preparation of legal cases, to determine eligibility of benefits/services or to assist in performing clinical research, clinical or physiological studies, evaluations, or medical treatment. Examples of experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
- Determining the eligibility for federal or state-administered benefits, such as: disability, education, housing, medical and/or veterans' benefits;
- Applying federal and state laws to process claims pertaining to a service, disability or benefit program;
- Gathering and requesting evidence to build service program case files, respond to claimant inquiries, and identify errors, inconsistencies or omissions;
- Explaining decisions to claimants, customers, special interest groups, dependents and/or representatives in an effort to gain understanding of determinations;
- Processing claims for eligibility for workers' compensation benefits to determine appropriateness and amount of worker's compensation claims;
- Performing, ordering and/or evaluating diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition, report symptoms or changes in patients' condition, maintain accurate detailed reports/charts.
- Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-9 grade level.
- Master's or equivalent graduate degree; or
- Two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related
- Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required at the GS-9 level, specialized experience must demonstrate: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade in the Federal Service reading and interpreting Federal benefits laws, rules and regulations to prepare claims rating decisions and explaining the decisions to individuals of various educational backgrounds. OR
- Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-10 grade level.
- 2.5 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a Ph.D., LL.M. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position.
- Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required at the GS-10 level, specialized experience must demonstrate: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-10 grade level in Federal Service assessing sources of evidence (to include anatomy, physiology, diseases and disability documentation) to arrive at rating decisions, reading and interpreting medical and legal terminology, composing official documentation regarding a wide range of Veterans benefits laws and regulations that pertain to the entitlement for and award process of each VA benefit program. OR
- Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-11 grade level.
- Education substitution of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree; OR
- Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related.
- Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required at the GS-11 level, specialized experience must demonstrate: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in Federal Service rating the full range of Veterans benefits claims cases from the lease to the most complex.
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: The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary.
Education
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.
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 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.
This is a bargaining unit position.
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.
Benefits
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 windowLearn more about federal 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.
You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:
- REASONING: Identifies regulations, laws, rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
- DECISION MAKING: Makes sound, well-informed and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action even in uncertain situations in order to assist customers and meet organizational goals.
- SELF-MANAGEMENT: Displays a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards completing claims and other assignments in a timely manner; works independently with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; sets well-defined and realistic goals that are in alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
- WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: Recognizes and uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information in brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
- ORAL COMMUNICATION: Express information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; listens to others; asks questions and gains or shares information.
- PROBLEM SOLVING: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations..
Benefits
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 windowLearn more about federal 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.
Required Documents
As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified; errors, omissions, or failure to submit the documents as specified will affect your rating or result in loss of consideration for employment.
- Resumedetailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
- For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
- Your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
- Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements.
- Current VBA Employees: If you are seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) AND the SF-50 placing you into your current position.
- Transcript if you are using education to qualify.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/16/2021 to receive consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11213966.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
Agency contact information
Rebecca Nicholls
- Address
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Anchorage Regional Benefit Office
1201 North Muldoon Road
Anchorage, AK 99504
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
Fair and Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
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Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified; errors, omissions, or failure to submit the documents as specified will affect your rating or result in loss of consideration for employment.
- Resumedetailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position.
- For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
- Your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
- Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.) in order to verify time-in-grade requirements.
- Current VBA Employees: If you are seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) AND the SF-50 placing you into your current position.
- Transcript if you are using education to qualify.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help
Learn more about this agency
How to Apply
Complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/16/2021 to receive consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11213966.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
Agency contact information
Rebecca Nicholls
- Address
-
Anchorage Regional Benefit Office
1201 North Muldoon Road
Anchorage, AK 99504
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Beginning of a dialog window for the agency announcing this job. It begins with a heading 2 called "Learn more about Field Operating Offices of the Office of the Secretary of the Army". Escape will cancel and close the window.
Learn more about
Veterans Benefits Administration
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's 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 America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
Agency contact information
Rebecca Nicholls
- Address
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Anchorage Regional Benefit Office
1201 North Muldoon Road
Anchorage, AK 99504
US