Approval rates
Judge Larner maintains a lifetime approval rate of 48%, calculated from a docket of 18,683 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate was 51%, compared to the 55% average at the West Des Moines Hearing Office and the 58% national average. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in his courtroom over the last nine years.
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 Larner'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 nine-year tenure, Judge Larner has maintained a steady decision pattern. While his approval rate was 40% in 2021, recent years show a return to his historical average, with a 50% approval rate recorded in 2025. This consistency suggests that his approach to evaluating disability claims has remained stable. The recent uptick in approvals reflects a continuation of this pattern, indicating that his evaluation criteria remain predictable for those presenting well-documented claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Larner'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 Larner? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the West Des Moines hearing office
The West Des Moines Hearing Office serves you across Iowa and surrounding regions, managing a high volume of disability cases with a team of 6 judges. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 55%, reflecting the broader administrative environment in which Judge Larner operates. You can expect a professional hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence provided in your file. You can see the West Des Moines Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Judge Larner is essentially random. The West Des Moines Hearing Office features a bench with lifetime approval rates ranging from 38% to 70%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the hearing room, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful. You can find more information on the West Des Moines Hearing Office page.
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.