Senior Veterans Claims Examiner (Education).

About the Role

The Senior Veterans Claims Examiner serves as the primary contact and subject matter expert for Veterans, claimants, and their representatives or advocates. This role is the main decision-maker for the full range of education claims.

Responsibilities

• Interprets and applies federal laws, VA regulations, and procedural guidance to resolve issues and ensure compliance in benefit administration.
• Provides technical guidance to less experienced staff, offering advice and clarification on policy, procedures, and casework.
• Responds to inquiries from veterans, educational institutions, and other parties regarding benefit eligibility, payment, and program requirements.
• Reviews completed claims for accuracy and completeness while adhering to standards, recommending corrective actions as needed.
• Writes reports and correspondence, including summaries, memos, and letters to support program operations, explain findings, and record decisions.
• Participates in training and development by attending and sometimes delivering training sessions to maintain proficiency and share knowledge.
• Adjudicates claims involving sensitive or complex issues such as mitigating circumstances, overlapping terms, multiple source Transfer of Entitlement (TOE), appeals, notices of disagreement, compliance survey corrections, Inspector General (OIG) audits, Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWC) decisions, incarcerated claimants, and audits of benefits received.

Requirements

As a condition of employment for this position, the following requirements apply:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms 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 used for employment identification.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement (07/29/2026).

Time-in-Grade Requirement: For a GS-11 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9 level. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

Minimum Qualification Requirement:

• Specialized Experience (GS-11): One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level, including:
  • Gathering and requesting evidence to build service program case files.
  • Responding to claimant inquiries and identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions.
• Education Substitution (GS-11):
  • A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or
  • Three full years (54 semester hours or 81 quarter hours) of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M, if related.

  Note: A transcript must be submitted if qualifying based on education.

• Combination of Education and Experience (GS-11): Applicants may combine specialized experience and education beyond two full years of graduate-level education. Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used.

Volunteer Experience: Includes paid and unpaid experience, such as volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary, involving mental rather than physical exertion. Typical duties include sitting comfortably, with occasional walking, standing, bending, or carrying light items such as papers or books.

Schedule

• Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Available.
• Virtual Position: This is not a virtual position.
• Telework: Eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized.