Approval rates
The approval rates for Kevin Batik reflect a significant volume of cases. While his lifetime approval rate is 32%, his latest-period approval rate of 46% shows how his recent decisions compare to the broader Fort Worth office average of 54%. These figures are based on 3,962 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Batik'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
Since 2016, the decision record for Kevin Batik shows a notable evolution in approval trends. After a period of lower approval rates earlier in his tenure, the data indicates a steady upward shift in recent years, with 2024 and 2025 showing higher approval percentages compared to the 2016-2018 window. His latest-period approval rate of 46% remains a key point of interest for your claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Batik'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 Fort Worth hearing office
The Fort Worth hearing office serves a large population of claimants across the region. With 15 judges on record, the office maintains a consistent workflow to manage the high volume of disability appeals. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 54%, providing a benchmark for the local judicial environment.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 63% on lifetime records.
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 Batik has a lifetime approval rate of 32%, which sits at the lower end of the 32% to 63% range observed among the 15 judges on record at the Fort Worth hearing office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare a case that addresses the specific evidentiary standards often required in this office.
Yes, the data shows a clear trend. While his overall lifetime approval rate is 32%, his annual approval rates have trended upward in recent years, reaching 46% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the specific medical evidence in your file.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ALJs. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the quality of your medical documentation is the best way to prepare.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you or a vocational expert. Having an attorney can help you navigate the questioning and ensure your testimony clearly explains your functional limitations.
A judge's approval rate is a historical reflection of their past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your case outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to perform substantial gainful activity. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.