Decision Review Officer

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:07/30/2026. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. If you are a current VBA employee requesting a reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-13 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-13. If you are a current VBA employee outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-13 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least None. NOTE: All current or former Federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 (you may need to submit more than one), "Notice of Personnel Action" that indicates proof of status and time-in-grade eligibility. The SF-50 must include your position, title, series, grade, step, tenure (1 or 2), and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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: This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement and these requirements below must be met to qualify for this position. One (1) year of Specialized Experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (12). Specialized experience is defined as: demonstrated knowledge of the methods and procedures for providing or performing a variety of functions and services applicable to the position to be filled; ability to plan, organize, and control work involving diverse activities; ability to gain cooperation and coordinate the work of others; and skill in oral and written communications. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Management analyst or technician or other work that included study, analysis, or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of managerial or administrative policies, practices, and procedures. Administrative officer or assistant, budget administration, program analysis, or other work that demonstrated knowledge of an organization and its functions, and the ways in which support services can facilitate the work of the organization. Office management experience that included responsibility for directing a variety of support services such as typing, mail processing, purchase of supplies and equipment, etc. Secretarial work that required monitoring and coordinating administrative and processing work of subordinate elements through a system of internal procedures, controls, production, progress reporting, etc., to insure the efficient operation of an organization. Military experience that included responsibility for directing a variety of support functions such as communications, property management, mail service, facilities and equipment maintenance, etc. Specialized Experience: In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement, you must have one year of Specialized Experience at the GS-12 level or higher. Specialized experience must document an expert level of analytical, technical and customer service skills and ability to independently make recommendations based on research, initiative and sound judgment in all instances. Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least 52 weeks at the GS-12 level as a Rating Veterans Service Representative in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience in ALL of the following: 1. Development, examination, investigation, adjudication, and authorization of claims for disability compensation, disability pension, death compensation, death pension benefits, or life insurance benefits; 2. Exercising independent judgment in applying claims determinations; and 3. Evaluating the claims development process and operations to determine the effectiveness in meeting established goals and objectives; AND 4. Preparing or conducting training activities. 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/. This announcement is being limited to the first 150 applications received. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on 07/30/2026 or 11:59 p.m. (EST) on the day the applicant count limit is reached, whichever comes first. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Continued in the Duties Section.

• Continued from the Summary Section: This job is located in the St. Petersburg RO Decision Review Operations Center (DROC). The primary purpose for this position is to receive notices of dissatisfaction from veterans and advocates. The incumbent is authorized to review the determination made by the VSR or RVSR, including the facts and evidence submitted in support of the claim and is empowered to uphold or overturn the decision. Major Duties: Receives notices of dissatisfaction from veterans and advocates and is empowered to review decision made by the VSR or RVSR, including the facts and evidence submitted in support of the claim. Upholds or overturn 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. Proficiency with rating disabilities and adjudication and authorization functions in compensation and pension programs. Issues revised decision based on the facts and evidence considered by the previous decision maker which form the basis for the claimant's dissatisfaction. Interprets laws, rules, regulations, and agency instructions concerning the allowance or disallowance of claims. Resolve 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 recoverable. Conducts post-decision reviews, identifies trends or out-of-line situations and report the information to management officials. Promotion Potential: None. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Position Description/PD#: Decision Review Officer GS-GS-13 (41131-A) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit: Yes