Approval rates
Judge Danialzadeh maintains a lifetime approval rate of 59%, which compares favorably to the 56% state average and the 58% national average. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,974 lifetime decisions, providing a baseline for understanding their approach. While these statistics offer insight into past trends, they are not a guarantee of how your specific hearing will conclude.
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 Danialzadeh'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
Over 3 years on the bench, Judge Danialzadeh has seen their approval rate shift from 78% in 2023 to 57% in 2025. This trend reflects a transition from early-tenure decisions to a consistent volume of 2,974 lifetime decisions. The latest period shows an approval rate of 56%, which aligns closely with the long-term average. This pattern suggests a stabilization in decision-making as the judge has gained experience within the Social Security Administration system.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Danialzadeh'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.
Hearing with Judge Danialzadeh? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Springfield MA hearing office
The Springfield MA Hearing Office serves a broad population across Massachusetts, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges currently presiding, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 59%. You can expect a professional environment where evidence quality and medical documentation are paramount to a successful outcome. You can visit the Springfield MA Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Springfield MA Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Danialzadeh is essentially random. Across the office's bench of 6 judges, lifetime approval rates range from 42% to 65%. This variance highlights the importance of being prepared for the specific procedural preferences of any judge you might draw.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.