Summary Applies Veterans' benefits laws and regulations that pertain to CS benefit programs. Studies program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and the operation of interacting programs and organizations to assist in the development of new and modified policies. Responsibilities Specific duties include: Applies Veterans' benefits laws and regulations that pertain to CS benefit programs. Studies program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and the operation of interacting programs and organizations to assist in the development of new and modified policies. Makes policy that results in decisions that affect disability claims processing for employees in all 56 Regional Offices and three Decision Review Operations Centers in determining service connection in Veterans' claims. Reports directly to the Chief, Part 3 Regulations, Policy team, Compensation Service (CS) and may represent the Chief at meetings and conferences. Researches and analyzes legislation, legislative history, regulations, regulation history, policy, case law, scientific studies, and claims data in order to formulate policy decisions affecting disability claims processing. Serves as a regulations policy expert collaborating with data, media and financial stakeholders to assist them in providing accurate and complete information supporting regulations. Writes accurate, clear, and comprehensible documents and emails. Writes regulations, regulatory support documents, white papers (options papers, position papers, etc.), and responds, in writing, to internal and external stakeholder inquiries in a comprehensive, accurate, clear, and comprehensible manner, while adhering to accepted standards of formatting and style, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondences, and justifications detailing reasons for decisions. Orally communicates in a clear and comprehensive manner at all levels to seek and/or present information, solve problems, identify issues/risks, clarify existing adjudication regulations, and/or recommend policy direction. Demonstrates mastery of the claims process, procedures, functions, responsibilities, and authorities that interact in the administration and implementation of the CS benefits program. Participates in special projects devoted to supporting policy analysis and updates. Manages multiple projects or regulations concurrently where effort involves coordination among multiple resources, other divisions, or agents outside of the organization. Participates, monitors, and oversees the completion and delivery of additional assignments, to include but not limited to, special projects and preparation of documents for procedural, policy, or regulatory changes. Deals with issues of both sensitive and high-profile nature (e.g., Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, Agent Orange, Gulf War, etc.) and advises leadership on the national and local impact of changes in process, protocol, regulations or legal statutes, which may impact or shape the future direction of the organization. Trains others on application of regulations and processes of rulemaking and reviews the work products of the Regulations staff for quality and consistency. The incumbent has the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups interested in or affected by adjudication policy and can respond to challenges or criticisms from the team, workgroup members and stakeholders in a manner that promotes collaboration. By applying agency guidelines and methods, together with knowledge of program requirements, the incumbent independently plans and carries out assignments; resolves most of the problems and conflicts that arise; coordinates the work with others as well as when to accept the suggestions of his/her colleagues and modify methodology; interprets policy and regulatory requirements; may develop changes to plans and/or procedures; provides recommendations for more significant improvements in order to meet project objectives; and/or keeps the supervisor informed of progress and potential controversies such as major barriers to completing projects due to conflicting or ambiguous guidelines, the needs for additional resources, etc. Provides authoritative technical advice and assistance to leadership and CS staff on Veterans benefits adjudication to support policy decisions and directions as well as regulatory and sub-regulatory program policies, objectives and operational results in order to rectify any issues that are the result of systemic problems. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Available. This position is 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. Position Description/PD#: Lead Veterans Claims Examiner (Regulations Lead); PD399480 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 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: 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 or trial 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. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:09/04/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 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-14 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-14. 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 as described below: GS-14 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the GS-14 Lead Regulations Analyst and is typically acquired through work directly related to veterans' benefits administration. Applicants must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of complex laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and Federal legislation governing the full range of VA benefits programs, as well as the ability to interpret and apply these authorities to resolve complex issues, provide authoritative technical guidance, and ensure consistent implementation of program requirements. Applicants must also possess extensive knowledge of Federal, state, and local benefits programs and demonstrate the ability to communicate complex benefits information effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences. Qualifying experience must also include leading a staff responsible for implementing veterans' benefits programs by planning and assigning work, providing technical direction and oversight, evaluating employee performance, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and quality standards, resolving complex operational issues, and promoting the timely, accurate, and consistent administration of veterans' benefits programs. Further, experience includes researching and analyzing legislative and regulatory history, case law and claims data to formulate policy decisions and recommendations impacting CFR Part 3 regulations and disability claims processing. 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: Work is primarily sedentary but involves use of a personal computer so a degree of manual dexterity and visual acuity sufficient to use these tools is required. Occasional standing, bending, walking, and stooping are also necessary. Some slight physical effort is required in that incumbent lifts and carries reference books, files, and similar items. No special physical demands are required. 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/. Education There is no education substitution for the GS-14 grade level. Additional Information This announcement is being limited to the first 50 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 50 at 11:59 p.m. (EST), whichever comes first. The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. 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. 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), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/documents/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review: Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
