Approval rates
When reviewing approval rates, it is helpful to compare a judge's performance against the broader bench at their office. The 69% approval rate for David J. Kozma is based on 83 decisions on record since 2016. This figure sits within the 28% to 74% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Kozma. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Kozma'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 rate for David J. Kozma is based on 83 decisions on record since 2016. During the 2016 period, the judge maintained a 69% approval rate. Because case assignment is random and based on workload-balancing algorithms, this pattern reflects the historical outcomes of cases assigned to the judge rather than a fixed rule for your future proceedings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kozma'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 Pittsburgh hearing office
The Pittsburgh hearing office serves you if you are in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in a decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh, and their approval rates since 2016 range from 28% to 74%. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
David J. Kozma has an approval rate of 69% based on 83 decisions on record since 2016. This falls within the 28% to 74% range of the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Pittsburgh. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for David J. Kozma was 69% during the 2016 period. Because the data window for this judge covers January 2016 through September 2016, this represents the total available record. An attorney can help you understand how your case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why preparing a strong, evidence-based case is essential regardless of who is assigned to your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
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 limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. While David J. Kozma approved 69% of the 83 cases on record since 2016, every case is unique. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your specific claim.
