Approval rates
Judge Greenberg has issued 10,374 lifetime decisions during his 4 years on the bench. His latest approval rate stands 5 points higher than the office average and 4 points higher than the national average. This data reflects a consistent history of adjudication, though it is important to remember that 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 Greenberg'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 4-year tenure, Judge Greenberg has maintained a steady approval pattern. While his annual rates have fluctuated slightly—ranging from 61% to 64%—his overall output remains stable. The latest reporting period shows he continues to approve cases at a rate above the local and national benchmarks. Please note that the lifetime average reflects the docket as a whole, not a prediction for your individual hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Greenberg'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 Greenberg? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the San Diego hearing office
The SAN DIEGO (California) Hearing Office serves a diverse population across the region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a high volume of claims, maintaining an office-wide latest approval rate of 57%. You can expect a professional environment where your medical documentation is thoroughly reviewed.
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.