Summary The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Click here for more information about CTAP eligibility on OPM's website. Responsibilities This position is located in the Education Call Center Division within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Processing Office (RPO) in Muskogee, OK. The Veterans Claims Examiner reviews education awards to ensure proper payment, eligibility, and entitlement regulations and laws have been applied in processing the education award. Advises education claimants and their representatives-via telephone of their benefits, rights, and privileges which they are entitled to under the laws administered by VA in a high-volume call center. Must possess the technical and communication skills to effectively carry out the duties of this position. Specific duties include: Assists individuals in developing needed evidence, preparing required documentation, and resolving errors and/or delays in obtaining benefits. Explains the @types of documents necessary to facilitate timely processing of claims and assists in obtaining and completing such documents and forms in accordance with the @type of claim being submitted. Responsible for counseling veterans, their dependents and beneficiaries via telephone in a high-volume call center regarding the full range of education benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The incumbent explores all avenues of assistance available to veterans, beneficiaries, and dependents and takes initiative to encourage individuals to fully utilize these benefits. Researches issue(s) to include direct contact with RO of jurisdiction if warranted, or in course of research, with other Federal or state agencies as necessary. Explains decisions and reasons for decisions made by the VA and communicates verbally this information to the claimant. Informs individuals of their right to appeal decisions and explains the appeal process. Provides advice, expertise and problem-solving assistance to claimants who call the National Education Call Center using discretion and tact when communicating negative or stressful information. Exhibits the ability to complete the contact independently and refer few calls to a higher level. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level 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. The grade progression for this position is GS-05, GS-07, GS-09. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday 8:00 - 4:30 pm CST during training. Upon completion of training, work schedule will be Full time, Monday through Friday 10:00 - 6:30pm CST Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available, this is a remote position Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Veterans Claims Examiner; PD37923A and PD37924A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 06/15/2026. GRADE REQUIREMENT: To receive CTAP selection priority, your grade level upon Reduction in Force must be at least GS-05, GS-07 with promotion potential of at least GS-9. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-05 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have three years of progressively responsible experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the GS-04. General experience is defined as experience that demonstrates the ability to: (1)Analyzing problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data; and recognizing solutions; (2)Planning and organizing work; (3)Communicating effectively orally and in writing. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree GS-07Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialize experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression (GS-5). Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Counseling individuals about federal, state, or local benefits by explaining legal provisions, regulations, or decisions to a variety of audiences. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. 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 is primarily sedentary. The EBS will be required to talk for long periods of time, which occasionally puts a strain on the throat/vocal cords. There are no other special physical demands required to perform the work. There may be some walking, standing, and carrying of light items such as papers, books, claims folders, and files from one desk to another or for returning to storage. Extensive use of a computer and a telephone with a headset is required. Education Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
