Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. The 34% approval rate for Lynette Gohr reflects her decisions on record since 2016, which can be evaluated against the 28% to 89% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from hundreds of cases. 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 Gohr. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Gohr'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 882 decisions on record for Lynette Gohr since 2016 show a pattern of activity that remained steady before concluding in 2019. Her yearly approval rates fluctuated slightly, starting at 31% in 2016, reaching 35% in 2017, 36% in 2018, and 31% in 2019. This consistency suggests a stable approach to case evaluation over the observed window. The data reflects a clear trend in how evidence was weighed across your docket during this period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gohr'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 Buffalo hearing office
Lynette Gohr's most recent office on record is the Buffalo hearing office, with decisions there through September 2019. This office serves claimants throughout the region and maintains a bench of 18 judges. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Buffalo hearing office page for the full roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo, and their approval rates since 2016 vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 89%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating evidence, understanding the broader bench is helpful. 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
Lynette Gohr has an approval rate of 34% on her 882 decisions since 2016. Among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Buffalo, approval rates range from 28% to 89%. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these local patterns.
Her approval rate on record since 2016 showed minor annual fluctuations, moving from 31% in 2016 to 36% in 2018, before settling back to 31% in 2019. This indicates a steady decision-making pattern over the period. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your success depends primarily on the medical documentation and testimony provided. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible before your hearing date.
