SHANNON JOHNSON

• Veteran's Benefits Training Coordinator
• Women's Veteran Service Coordinator Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator
• Determine different training challenges and adjudicated high quality work loads to determine if diseases and/or injuries were incurred or aggravated by military
  service in line of duty for purposes of compensation, treatment or hospitalization.
• Determine service-connection percentages of disabilities permanent and total disability and
  entitlement to compensation, pension and vocational training
• Assure proper application of rating schedule and other applicable instructions, and is fully accountable for proper analysis, appropriate development, and final rating determinations
• Provide consultative advice and assistance to Veteran Service Representative
• Participate in meetings and training sessions and lend expertise in developing veterans service
  representatives' skills as they relate to evidence gathering for rating decisions
• Advocate for veterans and their beneficiaries in their dealings with other VA elements and organizations that affect their claims
• Checks documentation for accuracy and validity on updated systems.
• Carry out administrative tasks by communicating with clients, distributing mail and scanning documents.
• Verify client information by analyzing existing evidence on file
• Maintain strong knowledge of basic medical terminology to better understand services and procedures.

• Coordinates with the Regional Offices, Veteran Service Organizations and Veterans to schedule
assigned Video hearings in Case Flow for all California Regional Offices and Houston Regional
Office to include: Oakland Regional Office, (Sacramento) Los Angeles Regional Office, and San
Diego.

• Works directly with Veteran's Law Judges (VLJs) to coordinate all assigned Video Hearings
directly with the Regional Offices, while providing the support to ensure the hearings are properly
held.

• Maintains the case pending transcript abeyance file; processes transcripts and digital audio files;
stores cases and files; dockets cases; responds to requests; researches legal issues and drafts
memoranda; analyzes motions; supports Board practices and procedures; enters statistical data for
reports; utilizes databases to process cases.

• Contacts attorneys, accredited service organizations, representatives, adjudication officers, veterans
benefits counselors and other appropriate personnel to research complex questions relative to
appeals pending before the Board.

• Provides technical guidance and support to Board Members and administrative personnel in matters
relating to hearings before the Board.

• Responsible for the security of claims folders by observing all Board policies regarding case control
and by updating the Board's automated databases accordingly. Accurately stores files according to
the type of case and stage of process.

• Responsible for training of junior program specialists in areas of resolving evidentiary issues and
processing requests, records control and data entry; review of incoming correspondence, or hearing
assistance and coordination.

• Prepares high level documents for senior management. Including policies, functions, and topics
with a broad impact on the direction of mission critical programs when assigned.

• Functions as a Contract Officer Representative (COR), and provides contract support services and
subject matter expertise.

• Distributes cases that have been advanced on the Board's docket or require special handling to
designated team members to facilitate requested action.

• Worked alongside other professionals to outline and implement program plans and objectives.
• Maintained regular communication between departments via email and phone calls to coordinate program logistics.
• Established goals and created action plans to achieve goals.
• Received incoming phone calls and contact form submissions and provided timely responses to inquiries.
• Evaluated program operations, successes and deficiencies to identify concerns and recommend strategies to enhance processes and elevate results.
• Monitored employee work and developed improvement plans.
• Oversaw appointment scheduling, time cards, and financial reimbursement of expenditures.
• Determined customer needs and developed program initiatives according to preferences.
• Interviewed and recommended team members for hire.
• Planned and executed meetings to connect organizational representatives, community members and clients.
• Developed and deepened productive community relationships to assist with defining requirements, executing plans and strengthening leadership.
• Coordinated communication among associations, allies, stakeholders and members to foster connections between departments.
• Managed newsletter distribution for programs to increase Employee engagement.

• Certified Veterans Service Representative (VSR) worked as an employee in the Veterans Service Center (VSC) Los Angeles Regional Office. Military Sexual Trauma Experience (MST)
• Explained benefit programs and entitlement criteria,
  analyzed claims materials, identified issues, gathered relevant evidence, conducted interviews, adjudicated claims, and input data necessary to generate awards and notification letter
• Made determinations as to eligibility for type of benefit sought to include questions relating to adequacy of military service, medical evidence and evaluation of evidence of income, employability, dependence and relationship
• Requested examinations, re-examination or opinions to evaluate disabilities resulting from diseases or injuries
• Reviewed claims cases to assure all issues have been addressed, applies and interprets VA laws, including veterans' case law, existing statutes and procedures, precedent rulings and state law in adjudication process
• Conducted interviews in person or by phone with veterans, representatives and advocates to explain full range of VA benefits and related programs
• Prepared and released correspondence for use by other federal, state and local agencies
• Utilized various electronic data processing (EDP) systems to input data for processing claims and
  generating automated correspondence.
• Worked directly with DRO and Rater and Applied a wide variety of reference materials to include manuals, directives, letters and other guidance on decision making process.
• Analyzed claims to determine if disease and or injuries were incurred or aggravated by military service in line of duty for purposes of compensation, treatment or hospitalization.
• Worked directly with Rater to assure proper application of Rating Schedule and other applicable instructions, and is fully accountable for proper analysis, appropriate development and final rating decision.
• Communicated with Veterans and a wide range of contacts to explain benefits entitlement and services.
• Reviewed letters, printed rating determinations documents and other written material for Contacted Veterans Power of Attorney and dependents of Veterans in order to obtain information needed to process Veteran's claim.
• Worked with Rater and or DRO within a team environment and serves as legal technician to gather and weigh evidence and apply controlling laws and regulations to support benefit
  determinations.
• Acts as an advocate for Veterans and their beneficiaries in their dealing with other VA elements and organizations that affect their claims.
• Trained with knowledge of anatomy and physiology, diseases and disability to assess sources of evidence and information necessary to determine percentages of disabilities, permanent and total disability, and entitlement to compensation, pension, and vocational training. veterans and dependents in preparing forms and documents to present claims for benefits.
• Reviewed and requested medical records, military personnel records and service verification records to determine eligibility status.
• Utilized to compose correspondence letters to explain current status of applications and request additional documentation.
• Conducted in-person and telephone interviews with veterans and advocates to explain benefits and related programs.
• Assisted veterans and dependents in preparing forms and documents to present claims for benefits.