Veterans Affairs Fld Svcs Repr I

650 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Affairs Field Services Rep I in Muskogee, OK, coordinates benefits for eligible veterans and dependents. Acts as a legal representative before USDVA boards, advises on documentation, and conducts outreach to maximize services. Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and veterans’ service accreditation within six months.

Fully in-office with travel to assigned territory as needed. The role emphasizes case management, research of laws and regulations, and liaison work with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to independently research laws, regulations and precedent decisions for appellant cases.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Interviews veterans and families to assess needs and eligibility for state and federal benefits.
• Prepares financial statements and related benefit documentation for claims and waivers.
• Represents veterans in hearings and drafts briefs for decisions and appeals.
• Provides counseling and coordinates training for service officers and outreach programs.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Job description

Job Posting Title Veterans Affairs Fld Svcs Repr I Agency 650 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Supervisory Organization ODVA - Claims & Benefits Job Posting End Date Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank. Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the posting end date above. Estimated Appointment End Date (Continuous if Blank) Full/Part-Time Full time Job Type Regular Compensation

Job Description Veterans Affairs Field Services Rep I

This position is for a VSR for the Claims & Benefits Division – Muskogee Claims Office Muskogee Claims Office 125 S. Main Street Muskogee, OK 74401 Annual Salary: $47,408.00

Basic Purpose Positions in this job family are assigned responsibilities involving the coordination of benefits and other related services for eligible veterans and their dependents and as legal representative/Power of Attorney on their behalf before U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) federal boards. Serves as an advocate for veterans in order to maximize services and benefits for eligible veterans and their families in a designated geographical area. Serves as a liaison to other federal and state agencies in matters related to veterans services and benefits.

Typical Functions

Interviews veterans and families assessing their needs and eligibility as related to receipt of state and federal benefits in the areas of medical treatment, disability compensation, insurance, pension, debt management, education, training, and rehabilitation. Performs case management duties throughout the processes of assessment, researching information, compiling reports, filing claims, formulating appeals, and obtaining benefits; interprets laws, rules, regulations and procedures and provides assistance in the completion of required forms; counsels and assists clients in utilization of appropriate resources, identifies deficiencies and develops a strategy to initiate actions necessary to obtain maximum benefits; advises clients of documentation required to support benefit claims; and makes referrals to other agencies and resources. Reviews rating board decisions insuring compliance with Title 38 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations; determines if appeal is warranted; initiates the appeal process by preparing a written brief outlining the basis of disagreement; and obtains client’s Power of Attorney to utilize as necessary. Prepares financial statements and interprets the correlation of Social Security, military retirement, other income and net worth affecting USDVA pension and compensation; assists clients in dealing with USDVA Debt Management Agency; prepares financial reports to support client’s request for waiver, postponement, compromise offers, or repayment plan for benefit overpayments. Independently reviews client USDVA files, evaluates evidence including veterans’ service and post-service medical records, as well as service histories; researches laws, regulations, policies and case law/precedent decisions from USDVA Board of Veterans Appeals and US Court of Veterans Appeals to prepare for hearings; and writes appellant briefs on issues that were previously adjudicated at a lower level. Acts as claimant’s legal representative during informal hearings before USDVA decision review officers, formal hearings before USDVA administrative hearing officers and Board of Veterans Appeals administrative law judges; presents oral arguments during hearings; obtains sworn testimony during formal hearings through a series of questions that are supportive of the issues on appeal. Plans/develops curriculum, conducts and coordinates training seminars and certification training for veteran’s service organization’s service officers, entry level VA Field Representatives and others as requested. Develops, maintains, and coordinates comprehensive veterans outreach and public information programs including certification through Veterans Affairs Regional Office. Serves as agency liaison and guest speaker at civic functions.

Level Descriptor

Levels are distinguished based on the complexity of assigned duties, the level of expertise required for completion of work assignments, and the responsibility assigned for the supervision of others. This is the basic level of this job family where employees perform entry level tasks to build their skills in the processing of claims and services based on federal and state laws and regulations to insure the entitlement and receipt of appropriate benefits and in counseling veterans and their dependents concerning benefits and services. Under close supervision, limited responsibility may be assigned for preparation of written briefs outlining evidence supportive of issues under appellant review or assignment as representative of veteran/client before decision review officers, administrative hearing officers, and administrative law judges.

Education and Experience

Requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, substituting one year of work experience in the military or veterans’ programs for each year of the required education.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Knowledge of federal and state statutes and regulations pertaining to veterans benefits and programs; of Social Security, Worker’s Compensation and other rules, policies and programs that affect veterans benefits; of benefit counseling and interviewing techniques; and of common adjustment problems experienced by veterans. Ability to independently research laws, regulations, policies and precedent decisions for appellant cases; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; to follow written and oral instructions; to use various software and agency specific computer programs; and to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Special Requirements

Applicants for these positions must be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, discharged under honorable conditions, and eligible for veteran’s placement under the Civil Service rules. Applicants applying for Level I must obtain accreditation by a veterans’ service organization, which has been certified by the USDVA, within six months of employment. Applicants applying for Level II, III, or IV must possess certification by the USDVA as completing TRIP (Training Response Involvement and Preparation of Claims) training and accreditation by a veterans’ service organization certified by the USDVA. Applicants must be willing and able to fulfill all job-related travel requirements associated with this position and be willing to relocate to a central area within their assigned territory. The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs has determined that some positions in this job family are safety sensitive as defined by63 O.S. § 427.8.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information, race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability. Current active State of Oklahoma employees must apply for open positions internally through the Workday Jobs Hub.

Agency Contact

Oklahoma State Government is the largest employer in the state of Oklahoma, employing over 35,000 diverse and talented employees in more than 100 state agencies, boards and commissions. Our workplaces can be found across the state from Boise City to Idabel, Hollis to Miami, and everywhere in between. To learn more about our state agencies, visit here. Industries: Government Administration Worker Size: 10,001+ Employees Headquarters: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Utilizing the Office of Veterans Placement provides eligible veterans additional services and interview opportunities for State of Oklahoma employment.