Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. The 60% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a broad view of his decision history, while his latest-period approval rate of 67% offers a snapshot of recent activity. These figures are best understood alongside the 43% to 88% range seen among the bench at the Grand Rapids office.
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 Ohanesian'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, Nicholas M. Ohanesian has issued 4,000 decisions. The yearly trend shows a period of steady approval rates followed by a rise in recent years. While the approval rate on record is 60%, the most recent data shows a 67% approval rate.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ohanesian'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 Grand Rapids hearing office
The Grand Rapids hearing office is the judge's most recent office on record as of July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across Michigan and maintains a bench of 10 judges on record. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 60%, providing a baseline for the region.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Grand Rapids
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Grand Rapids office, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 43% to 88% on their since-2016 records.
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
Judge Ohanesian has an approval rate of 60% on record since 2016. This sits within the 43% to 88% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Grand Rapids office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Nicholas M. Ohanesian has shown variation over time. While his rate on record since 2016 is 60%, his latest-period approval rate is 67%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge, and an attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily activities, pain levels, and work history. Having an attorney can help you present your evidence clearly and prepare for the questions you might face.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how Judge Ohanesian will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate the strengths of your claim and prepare for your hearing.
