Decision Review Officer
What you'd do
This announcement is being limited to the first 120 applications received. The announcement will close either on the published closing date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or on the day when the number of applications reaches 100 at 11:59 p.m. (EST), whichever comes first. This position is located at the Seattle Decision Review Operations Center and the purpose of this position is to receive notices of dissatisfaction from veterans and advocates.
Major duties
Specific duties include: Receives notices of dissatisfaction from Veterans and advocates and is empowered to review decisions made by the VSR or VSR, including the facts and evidence submitted in support of the claim. Upholds or overturns decisions based on difference of opinion. Conducts informal hearings to obtain additional information from veterans and/or advocate. Sustain or change decisions based on additional information gathered. In cases of continued dissatisfaction by a veteran, works with the veteran and advocate/representative to focus the issue and clearly explain a decision in an effort to resolve the dissatisfaction. Issues revised decisions based on the facts and evidence considered by the previous decision maker which forms the basis for the claimant's dissatisfaction. Interprets laws, rules, regulations, and agency instructions concerning the allowance or disallowance of claims. Resolves issues with respect to legal entitlements of veterans, their surviving spouses, and other beneficiaries. Decisions serve as a basis for payment or denial of benefits to claimants and for determination of the amounts payable or receivable. Accountable for all decisions rendered which govern a wide variety of federal benefits including: Compensation, Pension, Dependency, Death, Surviving spouse/ child, including child found permanently incapable of self support prior th 18th birthday, Special Monthly Compensation, Character of Discharge decisions, Burial, Educational for Veterans, surviving spouse and dependents, Vocational Rehabilitation, and additional claims processing. Conducts post-decision reviews, identifies trends or out-of-line situations and reports the information to management officials. Performs duties under the general administrative supervision of the DROC Manager or Assistant Manager. Interprets policy and determines the methods and contacts necessary that are supported by legislation and implementing agency directives including the Schedule for Rating Disabilities, VA regulations, manuals, bulletins, circulars, written instructions from centralized authority, and precedent decisions made in specific cases. In adapting laws, court decisions, BVA and other guidelines, and procedures to specific case circumstances, exercises exceptional independent judgment, skills, and initiative. With insufficient evidence to make an equitable decision, determines from a legal perspective what evidence is required, considers its feasibility, and initiates appropriate action to obtain it. Among the examples are specialized medical examinations, autopsy reports, hospital clinical records, field examinations, social and industrial surveys, observation periods in VA medical centers, employment records, wage and tax statements, loan applications, and school or vocational training records. Handles cases that involve unusual issues or situations; the work is vital to how the agency serves the public. Determinations are final and binding, subject to formal appeal only to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. An award decision can involve large sums of money or a denial decision that can have serious adverse effects. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: No, this is a remote position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Decision Review Officer; PD41131-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Bargaining Unit: Yes
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/10/2026. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. Note: If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess (1) year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates (1) year time-in-grade. General Adjustment and Award SF-50's cannot be used for time-in-grade verification purposes. 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: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12). Specialized Experience is defined as work that involves functioning in either a capacity performing training, analyst, or information systems duties of a claims management process. The experience should be substantive and relevant and may have been gained in the federal, military, or private sector. Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: Conducting reviews to analyze the quality of completed rated cases. Conducting evaluations and reviews on a quantitative or qualitative basis of claims development programs and operations to determine the effectiveness in meeting established goals and objectives. Preparing or conducting training activities. Identifying knowledge/skill gaps and plan training strategies. Providing and implementing data for one or more information management systems accurately and timely or providing technical guidance and direction to staff in the daily operation and maintenance of claims management systems. 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. 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/.
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