Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall approval rate on record since 2016 stands at 52%, recent performance shows a 50% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 9 points below the Tampa OHO office average of 59%. With 3,254 decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of past trends.
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 Kirzner'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 approval pattern for Ryan Kirzner has remained relatively steady since 2016. While annual rates fluctuated between 48% and 59% over the last decade, the most recent data shows a 50% approval rate. This latest period reflects a continuation of this stable pattern, suggesting that the judge's approach to evidence and testimony has remained consistent. The total of 3,254 decisions on record provides a reliable baseline for understanding these trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kirzner'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 Tampa OHO hearing office
Ryan Kirzner's most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 16 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 59%, which provides context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tampa OHO
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, and 11 of them decided cases here in the latest file. Approval rates across this bench range from 31% to 90% on their since-2016 records.
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
Judge Kirzner's latest-period approval rate of 50% is 9 points lower than the Tampa OHO office average of 59%. Because judges at this office have varying approval rates ranging from 31% to 90% since 2016, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate for Ryan Kirzner has remained generally steady over the years, with a 52% rate on record since 2016 and a 50% rate in the most recent period. While yearly fluctuations occur, the overall pattern indicates consistent decision-making. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. Since you cannot choose your judge, working with a qualified attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and organize your evidence to present the strongest possible case.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how Judge Kirzner will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your limitations. An attorney can help you identify gaps in your file that could strengthen your position.
