Veterans Service Representative.

Veterans Benefits Administration; Chelsea (ME); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Benefits Administration seeks a Veterans Service Representative to assess eligibility for VA benefits, review evidentiary documentation, and determine appropriate actions under VA rules. The role involves coordinating with medical examiners and case teams to ensure accurate decisions.

You will conduct interviews with Veterans, prepare correspondence, and use electronic systems to process claims and communicate outcomes.

Qualifications

• Ability to interpret laws, regulations and procedures to determine eligibility and benefits.
• Experience selecting, reviewing and adjudicating claims using federal guidelines.
• Comfort conducting interviews with Veterans, representatives and advocates to explain benefits.

Responsibilities

• Make determinations on eligibility for benefits including military service, medical evidence, income and dependents.
• Request and evaluate medical examinations or opinions to assess disabilities.
• Review cases to ensure issues addressed, apply VA laws and procedures, and interpret precedent rulings.
• Conduct interviews with Veterans and stakeholders to explain benefits and programs.
• Prepare and release correspondence for other agencies and stakeholders.
• Input data into electronic processing systems and generate automated correspondence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Legal interpretation

Data entry

Interviews

Customer service

Research & analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree with SAA

Master's degree or higher

Job description

Duties

Specific Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Make determinations as to the eligibility for the type of benefit sought to include questions relating to adequacy of military service, medical evidence and the evaluation of evidence of income, employability, dependence and relationship.
• Request examinations, re-examination or opinions to evaluate disabilities resulting from diseases or injuries.
• Review claims cases to assure all issues have been addressed, applies and interprets VA laws, including Veterans' case law, existing statutes and procedures, precedent rulings and state law in the adjudication process.
• May conduct interviews in person or by phone with Veterans, representatives and advocates to explain the full range of VA benefits and related programs.
• Prepare and release correspondence for use by other federal, state and local agencies.
• Utilize various electronic data processing systems to input data for processing claims and generating automated correspondence.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is GS-07/09/10.

Work Schedule: Full time, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Hours to be determined by hiring office.

Compressed/Flexible: Hours to be determined by hiring office.

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.

Remote/Virtual: This is not a remote/virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Veterans Service Representative, 37300A, 37301A, 37233A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Bargaining Unit: Yes

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Required

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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.
• Required to attend an 8 week training session, which may require travel.
• VSR Skill Certification required at the GS-10 level.
• 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.
• A complete application package must be submitted: Resume, transcripts, and any other required documents.
• You will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 09/29/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT

• For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level.
• 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.
• If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS- 07 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-10.

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. 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.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

GS-07 Grade Level

Specialized Experience: To qualify, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level or higher in the federal, state and/or private setting. Specialized experience is defined as: The interpretation or application of laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence to make determinations and research routine issues to resolve discrepancies. Examples of experience include:

• Using various computer systems for data entry and maintaining/monitoring case files.
• Applies use of federal laws when processing compensation and benefit claims for a state or federal agency, insurance company, worker's compensation, disability, retirement or pension programs.
• Determines basic employment qualifications and eligibility for benefit programs.

Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must have:

• A Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (3.0 GPA or higher). Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade point average or 3) honor society membership. OR One (1) full year of graduate level education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position.

Combining Education and Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement.

GS-09 Grade Level

Specialized Experience: To qualify, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level or higher in the federal, state and/or private setting. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience which requires the interpretation of legal and medical documentation to determine the claimant's eligibility for services and benefits programs. Examples of specialized experience include:

• Determining the eligibility for Federal or State-administered benefits, such as disability, education, housing, medical, and/or Veterans' benefits.
• Interpreting and applying Federal and State laws, including case law, existing statutes and procedures, and precedent rulings, to process claims pertaining to a service program.
• Gathering and requesting evidence to build service program case files, respond to claimant inquiries and identify errors, inconsistencies, or omissions.
• Explaining Federal or State claims decisions to claimants, special interest groups, dependents and/or representatives in an effort to gain acceptance of the determination.

Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must have:

• A master's or equivalent graduate degree in an accredited or pre-accredited college or university OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of an LL.B. or J.D degree, if related. Graduate-level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position.

Combining Education and Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement.

GS-10 Grade Level

Specialized Experience: To qualify, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level or higher in the federal, state and/or private setting. Specialized experience is defined as: Demonstrating competence in adjudicating Veterans' claims. Specialized experience is typically gained in positions that involve the development, examination, investigation, adjudication, and authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension benefits, life insurance benefits, etc. Such experience is to be substantive and relevant and requires a high degree of independence and judgment in the interpretation of more complex legal and medical documentation to determine claimant's eligibility and supporting evidence for services and benefits.

Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education you must have:

• Two and a half years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate-level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position.

Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g., have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement.

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; religious; 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. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The position is primarily in an office setting. Some travel may be necessary on occasion for training, meetings, or customer interactions.

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

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.

Additional information

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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

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

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.