Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to office and national benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Donsbach maintains a 60% lifetime approval rate, which is 2 percentage points above the national average of 58%. While the Los Angeles Downtown office currently averages 62%, these figures are based on a volume of 749 lifetime decisions. 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 Donsbach'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 a one-year tenure, Judge Donsbach has maintained a consistent approval pattern. The data shows a 60% approval rate across 749 lifetime decisions, reflecting a steady approach to case evaluation. This stability suggests that the judge's decision-making process remains anchored to established evidentiary standards. The current trend indicates a reliable pattern that provides a clear baseline for what to expect during your proceedings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Donsbach'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 Donsbach? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Los Angeles Downtown hearing office
The Los Angeles Downtown hearing office serves a diverse population across California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 62%. You should be prepared for a formal process that prioritizes your medical documentation and vocational evidence. You can visit the Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Los Angeles Downtown hearing office, the office's 6 ALJs range from 36% to 76% in their lifetime approval rates. This variance highlights why every case requires a unique strategy tailored to the specific evidence you present.
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.