Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 68% approval rate for Kevin R. Barnes covers all decisions since 2016. In the most recent reporting period, this judge maintained a 77% approval rate, which is 10 percentage points higher than the Dayton office average of 67%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a stable statistical baseline. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Barnes's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval trend for Kevin R. Barnes has shown notable shifts across the 4,261 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of decline between 2018 and 2021, the approval rate has trended upward, reaching 80% in 2025. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 77% approval rate, which remains well above the historical average. This recent pattern reflects a sustained period of higher allowance rates compared to the judge's record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Barnes's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Dayton hearing office
The most recent office on record for Kevin R. Barnes is the Dayton hearing office, where he has recorded decisions through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 8 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 67%, providing a benchmark for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dayton
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 46% to 69% based on records since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Kevin R. Barnes has an approval rate of 68% on record since 2016, which is at the higher end of the 46% to 69% range observed among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is Dayton. An attorney can help you understand how these local patterns might influence your hearing strategy.
Yes, the approval rate for Kevin R. Barnes has fluctuated over time. After reaching a low of 59% in 2021, the rate has trended upward, with a 77% approval rate in the most recent reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your evidence is ready for any ALJ.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how Kevin R. Barnes will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony presented at your hearing. An attorney can help you organize this evidence to give your case the best chance of success.
