Approval rates
Judge Gramenos shows an approval rate that exceeds the Detroit Hearing Office average by 17 percentage points. Compared to the broader Michigan state average of 57%, his decisions reflect a higher frequency of allowances. This data is drawn from a significant docket of 1,172 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of his judicial approach. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Gramenos'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 Gramenos has maintained a steady approval pattern. His 73% lifetime approval rate remains consistent across his tenure, suggesting a reliable approach to evaluating your disability claim. This stability is a key feature of his record, as he has consistently applied the standards required by the Social Security Administration. The recent period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gramenos'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.
Have a hearing with Judge Gramenos? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Detroit hearing office
The Detroit Hearing Office serves a large population across Michigan, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 56%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Detroit Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Detroit Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 44% to 75%. This variance highlights why understanding your judge's history is only one part of the process. 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.