Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period. While Michael A. Krasnow has a 33% approval rate on record since 2016, recent performance shows a 36% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 27 percentage points below the Washington office average of 63%. These statistics are derived from a docket of 3,111 decisions, providing a 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 Krasnow'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 Michael A. Krasnow has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching a low of 25% in 2022, the rate increased to 42% in 2023 before settling at 36% in the most recent period. This latest-period approval rate remains consistent with the broader pattern observed over the last few years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Krasnow'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 Washington hearing office
Michael A. Krasnow's most recent office on record is the Washington hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants in the District of Columbia and surrounding regions. With a bench of 33 judges, the office maintains its own operational standards and latest-period approval rates.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Washington
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your case is essentially random. There are 33 judges whose most recent office on record is the Washington hearing office. Approval rates for this bench range from 29% to 85% 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
Michael A. Krasnow has a 33% approval rate on record since 2016. Across the 33 judges whose most recent office on record is the Washington hearing office, approval rates range from 29% to 85%. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare for this judge's specific bench.
The approval rate for Michael A. Krasnow has fluctuated, starting at 31% in 2016 and reaching 36% in the latest reporting period. While there was a dip to 25% in 2022, the rate has remained relatively steady in recent years. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might impact your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation provided for your claim. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing.
