Veterans Service Representative (Rating).

About the role

As a Veterans Service Representative (Rating), you will determine eligibility for a wide range of benefits and services for Veterans and their dependents.

Responsibilities

• Determine service-connection, percentage of disability, permanent and total disability, and entitlement to compensation, pension, vocational training, medical and dental treatment, automobiles or other conveyances, insurance, specially adapted housing, dependent education allowances, and other ancillary benefits.
• Analyze claims to determine if diseases and injuries were incurred in or aggravated by military service for purposes of compensation, hospital treatment, prosthetic appliances, and related employment and compensation benefits.
• Determine the need for examinations or re-examinations for observations of Veterans and their dependents, including the character of such examinations.
• Determine the permanent incapacity and/or competency of Veterans and their dependents.
• Apply VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (Rating Schedule) and prepare rating decisions informing the Veterans Service Representative and/or claimant of the decision, reasons, and basis for it.
• Communicate and interact directly with Veterans and their representatives/advocates as dictated by the circumstances of the claims case.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process and provide acceptable forms of identification to complete pre-employment requirements.
• As a condition of employment, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 08/06/2026.

Time-in-Grade Requirement

Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements:

• 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.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

GS-09 Grade Level

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level. Specialized experience includes:

• Gathering or requesting evidence to respond to claimant inquiries for federal, state, or local benefits in areas such as burial benefits, education benefits, monetary benefits, welfare benefits, housing benefits, and various other programs.
• Gathering and requesting evidence to build service program case files, respond to claimant inquiries, and identify errors, inconsistencies, or omissions.

OR

Education Substitution:

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

GS-10 Grade Level

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level. Specialized experience includes:

• Assisting claimants with applications for federal, state, or local benefits in areas such as burial benefits, education benefits, monetary benefits, welfare benefits, housing benefits, and various other programs.
• Identifying errors, inconsistencies, or omissions in federal or state-administered benefits request packages.
• Explaining decisions to claimants, customers, special interest groups, dependents, and/or representatives to gain understanding of determinations.

OR

Education Substitution:

• Two and a half (2.5) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D., LL.M., or equivalent doctoral degree (transcripts required).

GS-11 Grade Level

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-10 grade level. Specialized experience includes:

• Explaining federal or state-administered benefits decisions to claimants to help them gain an understanding of claim determinations.
• Evaluating evidence and allegations to draw sound conclusions regarding benefit claims.
• Determining 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:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (transcripts required).
• Three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related (transcripts required).

GS-12 Grade Level

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level. Specialized experience includes:

• Determining eligibility for federal, state, or local administered benefits, such as disability, education, housing, medical, and/or veterans' benefits.
• 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.
• Performing, ordering, and/or evaluating diagnostic tests to identify and assess conditions, reporting symptoms or changes, and maintaining accurate detailed reports/charts.

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

Combining Education and Experience

If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level, 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.

Physical Requirements

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

Schedule

• Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Available.
• Telework: 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.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Promotion Potential

The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level (GS-12) 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.