VETERANS' BENEFITS CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE

DEFINITION

This is professional work in counseling military veterans and assisting them with benefit claims.

An employee in this class works in the Department of Veterans' Affairs Regional Office. Work involves monitoring claims submitted by the field offices for benefits with the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Duties include representing veterans or dependents in informal hearings at the Regional Office and preparing formal appeals for review by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. Work is performed under general supervision and is reviewed through conferences and reports for achievement of desired

Any one position may not involve all of the specified duties or knowledges, skills and abilities, nor are the listed examples exhaustive.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Responds to inquiries from Veterans' Service Officers and individual claimants pertaining to the status of claims for veterans' benefits, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) decision on claims for benefits, or how the DVA determined the benefit rate payable.

Advises veterans and Veterans' Service Officers regarding actions that may be taken to enhance a claim for veterans' benefits.

Consults with DVA concerning reconsideration of decisions on specific claims, computation of the benefit rate payable, acceptability of forms or documents submitted, or interpretation of DVA statutes, directives or policies.

Accompanies clients to informal DVA hearings and assists them in presenting their case in a manner which will result in a decision favorable to the claimant.

Assists claimants in preparing formal appeals for review by the Board of Veterans' Appeals, or prepares them for the claimant if requested.

Researches DVA statutes, directives, policies, procedures, and U.S. Court of Veterans' Appeals case law decisions to develop arguments supporting the claimant's position in an appeal.

Advises veterans, widows and children on veterans' benefits to which they may be entitled and what is needed to maximize their chances of having a claim approved.

Assists veterans, widows and children in filing formal applications and obtains supporting documentation.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Extensive knowledge of the benefits and services available to veterans and their dependents, and of the state and federal laws and regulations governing their administration.

Some knowledge of the principles and methods of interviewing.

Some knowledge of available community resources and agencies, both public and private.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with veterans, their dependents, community organizations, other agencies and the general public.

Ability to explain federal and state veterans' legislation.

Ability to analyze and interpret military, social and medical records in terms of establishing entitlement to veterans' benefits.

Ability to operate standard office equipment, such as personal computer, calculator and adding machine, in the preparation of forms, documents, reports and correspondence.

Ability to express ideas clearly.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

(The following entrance requirements are used to admit or reject applicants for merit system examinations, or may be used to evaluate applicants for employment in positions not requiring selection from merit system registers. When applicable, equivalent substitution will be allowed for deficiencies in experience or education.)

One year experience as a Veterans' Service Officer with the Missouri Veterans' Commission.

OR

One year of professional experience in governmental benefits eligibility determination and claims processing in areas such as veterans' benefits, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, food stamps, Medicaid, etc.; and graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. (Professional, technical or responsible public contact work in the area of business, public or personnel administration, social services, or the veterans' service program may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college education. Graduate work in business or public administration, education or the behavioral sciences may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Possession of an honorable discharge from the military forces of the United States.

(Rev. 8/1/97)