Approval rates
The approval rate for Dennis R. Kramer is based on 807 total decisions on record from 2016 through 2018. The 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 43% to 68% on their since-2016 records.
Judge Kramer is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Kramer isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
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
Dennis R. Kramer's record spans from 2016 through 2018, totaling 807 decisions. The yearly approval rate was 81% in 2016, 86% in 2017, and 29% over 8 decisions in 2018.
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.
About the Valparaiso IN hearing office
The Valparaiso IN hearing office is the most recent office on record for 11 judges, with 6 of them having active decisions in the most recent SSA file. You can find the full roster on the Valparaiso IN hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Valparaiso IN
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. Approval rates vary across the office's bench, with the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file ranging from 43% to 68% 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
Dennis R. Kramer's 83% approval rate on record since 2016 is higher than the 43% to 68% range observed among the 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case preparation.
The approval rate for Dennis R. Kramer was 81% in 2016 and 86% in 2017, before moving to 29% over 8 decisions in 2018. Because every case is unique, an attorney can help you evaluate how to present your medical evidence regardless of these historical trends.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. You cannot choose your judge, but a qualified attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how Dennis R. Kramer will rule on your specific claim. The strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor in your hearing, and an attorney can help you organize that evidence effectively.
