Approval rates
The approval rate for Stanley A. Moskal Jr. is based on a total of 303 lifetime decisions recorded between 2016 and 2017. The Buffalo hearing office bench features a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 28% to 89% across all judges on record. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Moskal Jr.. 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 Moskal Jr.'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
The record for Stanley A. Moskal Jr. shows a consistent approval pattern, with an 89% approval rate in 2016 and an 88% rate in 2017. This data covers the period from 2016-01-29 through 2017-09-29. The stability of these figures indicates a steady approach to evaluating disability claims over the course of the available data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Moskal Jr.'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Buffalo hearing office
The Buffalo hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a hub for disability adjudications in New York. The office maintains a bench of 18 judges on record who manage a high volume of cases. You can expect a formal process focused on the specific medical documentation provided in your file. You can see the Buffalo hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges on record at the Buffalo hearing office since 2016, with 5 of those currently reported in the latest SSA data. Because approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 28% to 89%, understanding the local environment is a standard part of your hearing preparation.
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
Stanley A. Moskal Jr. holds an 89% lifetime approval rate, which sits at the high end of the 28% to 89% range observed among the 18 judges on record at the Buffalo hearing office. While this rate is notable, every case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you present. An attorney can help you evaluate how to best present your case.
The approval rate for Stanley A. Moskal Jr. has remained steady, moving from 89% in 2016 to 88% in 2017. This consistency suggests a stable approach to case evaluation during the period for which data is available. If you are concerned about how your case will be viewed, an attorney can help you prepare your evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot influence the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare for your hearing.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a guarantee of a future outcome. While Stanley A. Moskal Jr. has an 89% lifetime approval rate across 303 decisions, your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical records and testimony. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of your hearing.