Approval rates
The approval rate for Robert L. Bartelt Jr. is calculated based on 104 lifetime decisions. This figure provides a baseline for understanding how the judge has historically ruled on disability claims. When evaluating this data, it is helpful to compare it against the broader office-wide lifetime range of 27% to 56%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Bartelt Jr.. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bartelt Jr.'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 record for Robert L. Bartelt Jr. spans from 2016 to 2016, covering 104 decisions. During this period, the approval rate remained 34%. This steady pattern indicates a stable approach to case evaluation over the available data window. The consistency in these figures suggests that the judge's decision-making process maintained a predictable trajectory throughout the recorded timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bartelt Jr.'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 Milwaukee hearing office
The Milwaukee hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Wisconsin and the surrounding region. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges on record, reflecting a diverse range of decision patterns. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical and vocational evidence. See the Milwaukee hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 13 judges on record at this office since 2016, 7 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 27% to 56% on a lifetime basis. You can find more information on the Milwaukee hearing office page.
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
Robert L. Bartelt Jr. has a lifetime approval rate of 34%. This sits within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 27% to 56% for the 13 judges on record at the Milwaukee office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to best fit the expectations of this specific bench.
The data for Robert L. Bartelt Jr. shows an approval rate of 34% over the 104 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2016. This indicates a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims during that period. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare a case strategy that addresses the judge's established patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process essentially random. Because you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction of how they will rule on your specific case. Robert L. Bartelt Jr. has approved 34% of the 104 cases on record. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim and prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.