Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. At the San Diego hearing office, lifetime approval rates among judges range from 37% to 68%. Mark B. Greenberg’s 63% lifetime approval rate is based on 1,590 decisions. These figures reflect past performance and do not guarantee the outcome of your hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Greenberg. 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 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
The record for Mark B. Greenberg spans from 2016 to 2019, covering 1,590 total decisions. The data shows a steady approval pattern, with rates of 61% in 2016, 63% in 2017, 63% in 2018, and 63% in 2019. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim over the recorded period.
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.
About the San Diego hearing office
The San Diego hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout the region, operating as a hub for disability adjudications in California. The office maintains a bench of 15 judges on record, ensuring a range of judicial experience. You can visit the San Diego Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges on record at this office since 2016. Because approval rates vary across the office's bench, ranging from 37% to 68%, it is helpful to understand the general environment of your hearing office.
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
Mark B. Greenberg has a lifetime approval rate of 63% across 1,590 decisions. This places the judge within the office-wide lifetime range of 37% to 68% for the 15 judges on record at the San Diego office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this courtroom.
The approval rate for Mark B. Greenberg has remained steady, starting at 61% in 2016 and reaching 63% by 2019. This consistency across 1,590 decisions suggests a stable approach to case evaluation. An attorney can help you review your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for any judge you might draw.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a favorable decision. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.