Approval rates
Judge Kirkpatrick maintains a lifetime approval rate of 51% based on 25,065 total decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded a 52% approval rate, which aligns with the San Antonio office average but trails the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a decade of service, providing a statistically significant view of the judge's history.
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 Kirkpatrick'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 10 years on the bench, Judge Kirkpatrick has navigated a variety of caseloads and evidentiary requirements. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates dipping to 40% in 2023 before reaching 58% in 2025. This recent shift suggests a dynamic approach to case evaluation. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, where your decisions remain sensitive to the specific evidence presented in your unique file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kirkpatrick'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 Kirkpatrick? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the San Antonio hearing office
The San Antonio Hearing Office serves a large population in Texas and manages a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where caseloads are distributed to ensure timely processing. You can expect a formal proceeding focused on the medical and vocational facts of your claim. You can visit the San Antonio Hearing Office page for more information.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Kirkpatrick is essentially random. Within the San Antonio Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 39% to 66%. This variance highlights why focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is more important than the specific judge 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.