Donna L. Strickland
Virginia Beach,VA
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Veteran Claims Specialist
V-Assist
Virginia Beach, USA
01.2015 - 01.2026
- Recognized as an advocate for veterans' support by delivering strategic focus on combat veterans and related families to ensure seamless claims processing.
- Steered and carried out daily administrative tasks, encompassing correspondence with veterans, Department of Veteran Affairs, and Board of Veteran Appeals.
- Planned and organized thorough reviews and audits of veterans' case files to scrutinize previous rating decisions for upholding integrity and identifying potential Clear and Unmistakable Errors (CUEs).
- Maintained proactive and consistent communication with veterans by utilizing email and phone channels to prioritize key needs.
- Stayed up-to-date and comprehensive routine log for accurate tracking of activities and milestones.
- Applied an adept understanding of Department of Veteran Benefits Administration regulations, including 38 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 3, 4, 19, and 20, as well as M21-1, Decision Assessment Documents, BVA, and CAVC cases.
- Leveraged advanced regulatory knowledge for ensuring precise and accurate case management by following established guidelines and protocols.
- Advanced internal processes and boosted efficiency in claims processing in close collaboration with a diverse team.
Administrative Assistant & Front Desk Associate
Veritas Collaborative
Richmond, USA
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Pioneered all facets related to front office operations by offering exceptional administrative support for smooth running of day-to-day activities.
- Streamlined communication by swiftly answering and directing calls, emails, and inquiries through strategic planning and execution.
- Coordinated appointments, meetings, and conferences with precision to seamless scheduling and logistics.
- Employed strong organizational skills to keep a clean and welcoming reception area.
- Facilitated effective communication between departments by fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Spearheaded general clerical support by significantly improving efficiency of daily operations for therapeutic assistants and psychotherapists in an eating disorder facility catering to adolescents and adults.
Veterans Benefits Administration
Department of Veteran Affairs
Winston, USA
01.2002 - 01.2015
- Evaluated claims to ascertain service-related nature of veterans' disabilities to determine eligibility for compensation, treatment, or hospitalization.
- Conducted thorough analyses to pinpoint secondary issues stemming from primary service-connected conditions or disease progressions.
- Interpreted diagnostic tests and medical examinations to ensure a deep understanding for accurate rating assessments.
- Proactively requested medical clarifications in cases of conflicting data or ambiguous medical statements by contributing to the precision of ratings.
- Assumed a crucial role in assisting veterans, both male and female that faced trauma issues during military service, particularly in sexual assault and rape cases.
- Promoted temporarily to Human Resource Department for showcasing adaptability and versatility in collection and assessment of new employee information, data input, and report generation.
- Performed all tasks in HR Department during an influx of new employees, overseeing indoctrination, completion of personnel forms, and database updates.
- Tracked and steered an impressive caseload of 3K+ cases for two Decision Review Officers (GS13s), while efficiently handling a personal caseload exceeding 500 cases.
- Mentored and instructed fellow Rating Specialists and Veteran Service Representatives in researching, analyzing, interpreting, and applying regulations such as CFR 38, court cases, and other regulatory guidelines.
- Ensured meticulous preparation of cases by addressing all medical and legal facets, showcasing attention to detail and a commitment to comprehensive case analysis.
- Handpicked by Senior Management to serve on specialized 'Help Teams,' including the prestigious 'Congressional Help Team,' rectifying high-priority claims assigned by House of Representatives.
- Oversaw management of daily, weekly, and monthly reports by facilitating timely action and ensuring a well-organized workflow for decision-making processes.
- Played a key role in the indoctrination process and maintenance of training reports for new employees.
- Contributed to informed and accurate decision-making processes by interpreting complex information by carrying out rigorous analysis of all data, executing Federal regulations/guidelines to process decisions.
Veteran Service Representative
Virginia Department of Veteran Services
Richmond, USA
01.2016
- Processed and facilitated claims for disability compensation, pension, and education benefits.
- Delivered strategic counseling to veterans by clarifying eligibility criteria and initiating informed decision-making.
- Retained a high level of customer service by fixing inquiries, offering updates, and unraveling key concerns in a timely manner.
- Advocated for veterans in appeals process to secure fair and favorable outcomes.
Veteran Service Officer
North Carolina Division of Veteran Affairs
, USA
01.2015
- Delivered personalized benefits advice to veterans and families at VAMC in Asheville and diverse remote areas to nurture accessibility across demographics by traveling extensively, building positive relationships, and providing guidance to veterans in varied geographical locations.
- Showcased expertise in settling special appeal cases promptly and effectively, while using in-depth knowledge of policies and regulations and contributing to fair and favorable outcomes in complex appeal situations.
Cryptologist Technician Operator
United States Navy
, USA
- Held a Top-Secret clearance and a Talent Keyhole clearance, exhibiting trustworthiness and access to sensitive information.
Timeline
Administrative Assistant & Front Desk Associate
Veritas Collaborative
01.2016 - 01.2017
Veteran Service Representative
Virginia Department of Veteran Services
01.2016
Veteran Claims Specialist
V-Assist
01.2015 - 01.2026
Veteran Service Officer
North Carolina Division of Veteran Affairs
01.2015
Veterans Benefits Administration
Department of Veteran Affairs
01.2002 - 01.2015
Cryptologist Technician Operator
United States Navy