Veterans Service Representative

Veterans Benefits Administration; Chelsea (ME); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Benefits Administration is seeking a Veterans Service Representative (VSR) to work in the Veterans Service Center (VSC) or Pension Management Center (PMC). The VSR will explain benefit programs and entitlement criteria, analyze claims materials, gather evidence, conduct interviews, adjudicate claims, and input data to generate the award and notification letter describing the decision and reason.

Qualifications include time-in-grade requirements for current federal employees, specialized

Qualifications

• GS-07 Grade Level: Specialized Experience includes interpreting or applying laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence to make determinations and resolve discrepancies.
• GS-07: Using various computer systems for data entry and maintaining/monitoring case files.
• GS-07: Determining basic employment qualifications and eligibility for benefit programs.
• GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience includes interpreting legal and medical documentation to determine claimant's eligibility for services and benefits; gathering evidence; explaining decisions.

Responsibilities

• Explain Federal or State benefit programs and entitlement criteria to claimants and representatives.
• Analyze claims materials, identify issues, and gather relevant evidence.
• Conduct interviews and adjudicate claims, input data to generate award notices and explanations.

Education

Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement

One (1) full year of graduate level education

Job description

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, analyzes claims materials, identifies issues, gathers relevant evidence, conducts interviews, adjudicates claims, and inputs data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the Veteran describing the decision and the reason for it.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 09/29/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade at any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: 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. OR 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. OR 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. OR 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 O