Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Bernard J. McKay's lifetime approval rate of 47% sits within the broader San Antonio office range of 18% to 70%. In the most recent reporting period, his 57% approval rate outperformed the office-wide 52% average by 5 percentage points. These figures are derived from a docket of 4,139 lifetime decisions. 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 McKay'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 2016, Bernard J. McKay's approval rate has shown an upward trend. After hovering in the low 40s during the 2019-2021 period, the rate reached 57% in the most recent reporting cycle. This shift marks a departure from earlier decision patterns. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent trajectory, which may be influenced by changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McKay'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 San Antonio hearing office
The San Antonio hearing office serves applicants throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 23 judges on record. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 52%, reflecting the collective workload of the 17 active judges currently reporting. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the evaluation of medical and vocational evidence. You can see the San Antonio 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges on record at this office since 2016, 17 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 18% to 70% lifetime. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Bernard J. McKay's 47% lifetime approval rate is situated within the San Antonio office's range of 18% to 70%. In the latest reporting period, his 57% approval rate is 5 percentage points higher than the office-wide average of 52%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific case strategy.
Yes, the data shows an upward trend. While his approval rate was 43% in 2016, it has risen to 57% in the most recent period. This shift suggests a change in decision-making patterns over the last decade. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your evidence to align with the current standards of his courtroom.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a randomized workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. You cannot choose your judge, which is why it is vital to be prepared for any outcome. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of your future outcome. While Bernard J. McKay's 47% lifetime rate provides context, your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses before you appear before him.