Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. The judge's 43% approval rate since 2016 provides a stable baseline for understanding long-term decision-making patterns. When looking at the most recent reporting period, the judge's 47% approval rate can be compared against the Wichita office's 57% rate, the state's 49% rate, and the national 58% rate. These figures are derived from thousands of decisions, providing statistical confidence. 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 Evans'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 January 2016, the judge has issued 3,774 decisions. The yearly trend shows a period of fluctuation, with approval rates moving from 43% in 2016 to a high of 53% in 2017, before stabilizing in the low 40s for several years. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows an approval rate of 47%. This latest period reflects a slight uptick compared to the 2025 rate of 39%, though it remains within the established range of the judge's historical pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Evans'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 Wichita hearing office
Edward E. Evans's most recent office on record is the Wichita hearing office, which serves you across Kansas. This office is part of a regional network that handles a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 8 judges, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 57%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence. See the Wichita Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wichita
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is effectively random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the Wichita office. Approval rates among this bench range from 37% to 67% on their 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
Judge Evans has an approval rate of 43% on record since 2016. Other judges whose most recent office on record is Wichita have approval rates ranging from 37% to 67%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The judge's approval rate has seen various shifts since 2016, starting at 43% and reaching 47% in the most recent partial fiscal year. While these trends provide context, they do not dictate the outcome of your specific case. An attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, and you cannot request a specific ALJ. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge by having a strong, evidence-based case. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
The 43% approval rate on record for Judge Evans represents a probability cloud from past decisions, not a prediction for your hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
