Veterans Service Representative (Rating)

Veterans Benefits Administration; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Benefits Administration is seeking a Rating Veterans Service Representative to analyze claims and apply the Rating Schedule. The role involves preparing rating decisions and informing claimants of the bases and reasons for those decisions.

The incumbent acts as a decision maker for complex rating determinations, including service-connection and disability percentages. Qualified applicants understand federal benefits programs, and possess strong skills in evidence gathering and

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in informing claimants about benefits and eligibility.
• Ability to gather and request evidence to support claims.
• Explain decisions and respond to claimants to aid understanding of determinations.

Responsibilities

• Analyze claims and apply the Rating Schedule.
• Prepare rating decisions and inform claimants of bases and reasons.
• Determine service-connection, disability percentage, and entitlement to benefits.
• Explain decisions to claimants and stakeholders.

Skills

Specialized experience

Explain decisions

Gather evidence

Communicate with claimants

Education

Related graduate degree

Two-plus years graduate education

Job description

The Rating Veterans Service Representative analyzes claims, applies VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule), and prepares rating decisions informing the VSR and/or claimant of the decision, the bases, and reason for it. The incumbent serves as a decision maker for claims involving rating decisions. The incumbent determines service-connection, percentage of disability, permanent and total disability, entitlement to compensation, and other ancillary benefits.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved before the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:10/26/2026.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT

• 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.
• For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-10 level.
• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 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-09 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12.

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 and/or education as described below:

GS-09 Grade Level:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level or higher in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as gathering or requesting evidence to respond to claimant inquiries for federal, state, or local benefits in areas such as but not limited to: burial benefits, education benefits, monetary benefits, welfare benefits, housing benefits and various other federal, state, or local programs.

• Example of experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Gathering and requesting evidence to build service program case files, respond to claimant inquiries, and identify errors, inconsistencies, or omissions.

OR

Education Substitution:

Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-9 grade level.

• Master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related (You must provide transcripts); OR
• Two (2) full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or LL.B. or J.D., if related (You must provide transcripts).

GS-10 Grade Level:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level or higher in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as (1) assisting claimants with applications for federal, state, or local benefits in areas such as but not limited to: burial benefits, education benefits, monetary benefits, welfare benefits, housing benefits and various other federal, state, or local programs; AND (2) identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions in federal or state-administered benefits request package.

• Example of experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
  • Explaining decisions to claimants, customers, special interest groups, dependents and/or representatives in an effort to gain understanding of determinations.

OR

Education Substitution:

Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-10 grade level.

• Two and a half (2.5) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a Ph.D., LL.M. or equivalent doctoral degree. Graduate-level education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work of the position. (You must provide transcripts).

GS-11 Grade Level:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-10 grade level or higher in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as (1) explaining federal or state-administered benefits decisions to claimants to help them gain an understanding of claim determinations; and (2) evaluating evidence and allegations to draw sound conclusions regarding benefit claims.

• Determining the eligibility for federal or state-administered benefits, such as: disability, education, housing, medical and/or veterans' benefits.
• Applying federal and state laws to process claims pertaining to a service, disability, or benefit program.

OR

Education Substitution:

Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-11 grade level.

• Education substitution of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree (You must provide transcripts); OR
• Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M, if related. (You must provide transcripts).

GS-12 Grade Level:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level or higher in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as (1) determining the eligibility for federal, state, or local administered benefits, such as: disability, education, housing, medical and/or veterans' benefits; and (2) applying federal or state laws to process claims pertaining to an employment, disability, or benefit program.

• Processing claims for eligibility for workers' compensation benefits to determine appropriateness and amount of worker's compensation claims.
• Performing, ordering and/or evaluating diagnostic tests to identify and assess patient's condition, report symptoms or changes in patients' condition, maintain accurate detailed reports/charts.

Education Substitution

There is no education substitute at the GS-12 level.

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. Click here for more information.

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

The work normally involves mental rather than physical exertion. The work is mostly sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

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/.