Approval rates
Judge Lyman’s approval rate is 20 percentage points higher than the San Jose Hearing Office average and 20 points above the national average. This data is derived from a docket of 12,790 lifetime decisions, providing a clear view of his historical approach to disability claims. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Lyman'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
Since taking the bench in 2016, Judge Lyman has seen his approval rate rise from 61% to 89% in the most recent reporting period. This steady upward trend suggests a consistent pattern in how he evaluates medical evidence and vocational testimony. The latest data reflects a continuation of this long-term pattern of decision-making.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lyman'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 Lyman? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the San Jose hearing office
The San Jose Hearing Office serves a large population across Northern California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where case complexity varies significantly. You can see the San Jose Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the San Jose office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 48% to 78%. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical documentation is the most effective way to prepare.
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.