Approval rates
When evaluating your claim, it is helpful to look at how a judge's approval rate compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Graalmann's lifetime approval rate of 50% is measured against the Alexandria Hearing Office latest rate of 59% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 1,243 lifetime decisions, providing a look at his historical decision-making. 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 Graalmann'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 his 1 year on the bench, Judge Graalmann has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. With 1,243 lifetime decisions, his record reflects a steady pattern of adjudication. While his latest approval rate shows a variance of 9 points below the office average, this is common in the context of varying case mixes and evidence quality. This trend suggests a stable judicial philosophy that remains focused on the specific merits of each file presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Graalmann'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 Graalmann? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Alexandria hearing office
The Alexandria Hearing Office serves a diverse population across Virginia and the surrounding region. It is staffed by 6 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims to ensure timely processing. The office currently maintains an office-wide approval rate of 59%, reflecting the local standards for evidence and documentation. You can see the Alexandria Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Alexandria Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates across the bench range from 32% to 66%. This variation highlights why focusing on the strength of your own medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.