Approval rates
Comparing a judge's lifetime approval rate to current office and national benchmarks provides perspective on the hearing landscape. Judge Kurlander has maintained a 37% approval rate across 11,360 lifetime decisions. This data is measured against the latest Reno office approval rate of 60% and the national average of 58%. These figures offer a statistical baseline for understanding the environment of your upcoming 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 Kurlander'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
Over his 6-year tenure, Judge Kurlander has presided over 11,360 lifetime decisions. His yearly approval trends have fluctuated, ranging from a high of 49% in 2017 to 26% in 2021. This variance suggests that the approach to evidence and case requirements has shifted over time. The recent period reflects a departure from earlier career averages, which may be influenced by changes in case mix or evolving evidentiary standards. You can find more information on the Reno Hearing Office page.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kurlander'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 Kurlander? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Reno hearing office
The Reno Hearing Office serves you throughout Nevada, managing a high volume of disability hearings. With a bench of 5 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 60%. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical records and work history. You can see the Reno Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Reno Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 27% to 56%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evaluating medical evidence and vocational testimony, the specific judge assigned to your case can influence the process.
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.