Veterans Service Representative

Veterans Benefits Administration; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Benefits Administration is seeking a Veterans Service Representative (VSR) to explain benefit programs and entitlement criteria, analyze claims material, identify issues, gather relevant evidence, and conduct interviews to adjudicate claims. The position involves inputting data to generate the award and notifying the Veteran of the decision.

Applicants must meet the time-in-grade requirements and qualify at GS-07, GS-09, or GS-10 levels, with education substitutions possible.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience interpreting or applying laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence and determine eligibility.
• Education can substitute for experience (Graduate study, Bachelor's with SAA, etc.).
• Requires knowledge of federal laws when processing benefits claims.

Responsibilities

• Explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria.
• Analyzes claims materials and identifies issues.
• Gathers relevant evidence and conducts claimant interviews.
• Inputs data to generate award and notification letter describing the decision.

Skills

Specialized experience

Data entry

Legal/regulatory knowledge

Evidence analysis

Education

Graduate-level education

Bachelor's degree with SAA

Master's degree

LL.B./J.D.

Job description

The Veterans Service Representative (VSR) explains benefit programs and entitlement criteria, analyzes claims material, identifies issues, gathers relevant evidence, conducts interviews to adjudicate claims and inputs data necessary to generate the award and notification letter to the Veteran describing the decision.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 09/22/2026.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:

GS-07 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher. 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 program;


• 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:

• One (1) full year of graduate level education. Graduate level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position;

OR

• 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. For more information on calculating SAA please visit www.opm.gov.

GS-09 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as experience which requires interpreting laws, regulations, or procedures to analyze evidence to make recommendations; and following procedures to process eligibility claims for benefits such as but not limited to disability, worker and unemployment insurance compensation, insurance, loans, education, or retirement programs.

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;

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.

GS-10 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level or higher. Specialized experience is defined as asking questions relating to military service or medical evidence to make determinations as to the eligibility for programs; Reviewing claims or cases to assure all laws have been laws addressed in the adjudication process; AND Informing claimants of all evidence requirements needed to further process a claim for benefits and/or services.

OR

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 http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/