Veterans Claims Examiner.

Veterans Benefits Administration; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Benefits Administration in Oakland, CA is seeking a Veterans Claims Examiner to review and apply laws and procedures governing VA compensation and related benefits. The role advises leadership on policy implementations and supports field operations.

You will analyze data, issue recommendations, and ensure accurate administration of claims, with the possibility to stand in for supervisors as needed.

Responsibilities

• In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the administration of claims for VA compensation and related benefits
• Serves as a reviewer for national STAR and special focus reviews and assists field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training.
• Authority to make technical, and administrative decisions with regulatory/statutory guide, regulations, policies, procedures and/or instructions to carry out the functions which support operations delivery.
• Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as internet tools, manuals and other reference material.
• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statues, which may impact or shapes the future direction of the organization.
• Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases and national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural and operational aspects of CS. The incumbent may act for their immediate supervisor when called upon to do so.

Job description

Job Responsibilities

• In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the administration of claims for VA compensation and related benefits
• Serves as a reviewer for national STAR and special focus reviews and assists field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training.
• Authority to make technical, and administrative decisions with regulatory/statutory guide, regulations, policies, procedures and/or instructions to carry out the functions which support operations delivery.
• Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as internet tools, manuals and other reference material.
• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statues, which may impact or shapes the future direction of the organization.
• Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases and national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural and operational aspects of CS. The incumbent may act for their immediate supervisor when called upon to do so.

Duties

• In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the administration of claims for VA compensation and related benefits
• Serves as a reviewer for national STAR and special focus reviews and assists field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training.
• Authority to make technical, and administrative decisions with regulatory/statutory guide, regulations, policies, procedures and/or instructions to carry out the functions which support operations delivery.
• Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as internet tools, manuals and other reference material.
• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statues, which may impact or shapes the future direction of the organization.
• Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases and national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural and operational aspects of CS. The incumbent may act for their immediate supervisor when called upon to do so.

Specific Duties Include

• In-depth knowledge of laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the administration of claims for VA compensation and related benefits
• Serves as a reviewer for national STAR and special focus reviews and assists field stations with instructions for implementing policy, procedures, or training.
• Authority to make technical, and administrative decisions with regulatory/statutory guide, regulations, policies, procedures and/or instructions to carry out the functions which support operations delivery.
• Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as internet tools, manuals and other reference material.
• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statues, which may impact or shapes the future direction of the organization.
• Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases and national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural and operational aspects of CS. The incumbent may act for their immediate supervisor when called upon to do so.

Work Schedule

Fulltime, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible

Not Avauilable

Telework

This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.

Virtual

This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#

Veterans Claims Examiner; PD39859A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report

Not Required

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Required

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the Agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the Agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Additional Conditions Of Employment Are As Follows

• 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 or trial period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:10/13/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT

As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

GS-13 Grade Level

• Specialized Experience: Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position(s), and that is typically IN OR RELATED TO the work of the position to be filled. The applicant must document knowledge of a complex field of laws, regulations and Federal legislation pertaining to the full range of veterans benefits and a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of state, federal and local benefit programs to be able to explain them, both orally and in writing, to individuals of all educational backgrounds. Experience is shown by having been a Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR), Rating Quality Review Specialist (RQRS), or Decision Review Officer (DRO) within the last three years

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: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual dexterity and visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required. Occasional standing, bending, walking, and stooping are also necessary. Some slight physical effort is required in that incumbent lifts and carries reference books, files, and similar items. No special physical demands are required.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

There is no educational requirement or substitution at the GS-13 grade level.

Additional information

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 your 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 ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

Please visit the

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act

the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP),

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests

If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review:

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.