Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to the broader bench is a vital part of your case preparation. The approval rates for the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oak Brook office vary significantly, ranging from 35% to 84% based on their records since 2016. By examining these figures, you can better understand the statistical landscape of your hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Kraybill. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Kraybill'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
John K. Kraybill decided 467 cases between January 2016 and September 2017. During this period, the approval rate moved from 59% in 2016 to 50% in 2017. These patterns reflect the outcomes recorded during that window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kraybill'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 Oak Brook hearing office
John K. Kraybill's most recent SSA record (September 2017) is at the Oak Brook hearing office. This office serves you and other claimants across the Illinois region and maintains a bench of 10 judges whose most recent records are associated with this location. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Oak Brook office, with approval rates ranging from 35% to 84% on their since-2016 records. While you cannot choose your judge, knowing the range of outcomes across the office helps you prepare for your hearing.
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
John K. Kraybill's 57% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 35% to 84% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Oak Brook. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The data shows an approval rate of 59% in 2016 and 50% in 2017. These figures represent the judge's recorded decisions during that window. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case evidence.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot request a specific judge, which is why preparing a strong case is essential regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert testify before the judge. The judge will review your medical records and ask questions to determine your ability to perform work. Having an attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions and is not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare accordingly.
