Approval rates
Judge Kramer maintains an approval rate that outperforms regional and national benchmarks. While the Valparaiso IN Hearing Office reports a latest approval rate of 58%, Judge Kramer’s historical performance remains higher. These figures are derived from a docket of 4,451 lifetime decisions accumulated over 3 years on the bench. 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 Kramer'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
Your judge's career trajectory shows a high initial approval rate that shifted during the final reporting period. After maintaining strong approval levels in 2016 and 2017, the data reflects a lower volume of decisions in 2018. This variance highlights the importance of focusing on the specific medical evidence in your file rather than relying solely on historical averages. The latest period reflects a departure from the earlier, higher approval trends observed throughout the judge's tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kramer'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 Kramer? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Valparaiso IN hearing office
The Valparaiso IN Hearing Office serves a broad population across Indiana, managing a high volume of disability claims. As part of a regional network, this office handles cases with a focus on administrative efficiency. You can expect a standard hearing process governed by federal regulations. You can see the Valparaiso IN Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Valparaiso IN Hearing Office, the bench includes 6 judges with lifetime approval rates ranging from 48% to 83%. This variance across the office underscores why your specific case presentation is the most critical factor. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge you are 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.