Approval rates
Craig R. Petersen's lifetime approval rate of 40% sits within the broader Savannah office-wide range of 36% to 81%. In the most recent reporting period, his 43% approval rate is compared against the office rate of 54%, the state rate of 57%, and the national rate of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for your case preparation.
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 Petersen'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, Craig R. Petersen has issued 4,144 decisions. His yearly approval trend shows a period of decline followed by a recent recovery, with the 2026 approval rate reaching 43%. This pattern suggests a steady approach to case evaluation that has evolved over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Petersen'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 Savannah hearing office
The Savannah hearing office serves claimants throughout the region. With 14 judges on record, the office maintains an active docket to manage the volume of disability claims in Georgia. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Craig R. Petersen is essentially random. There are 14 judges on record at this office since 2016, 5 of whom reported in the latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 36% to 81% over their respective lifetimes.
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
Craig R. Petersen's 40% lifetime approval rate falls within the 36% to 81% range seen across the Savannah bench. While his latest-period approval rate is 43%, other judges in the office have different historical patterns. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this specific judge.
Yes, his approval rate has fluctuated since 2016, moving from 45% in his early record to a low of 24% in 2022, before rising to 43% in 2026. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control the assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical documentation is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence for your claim.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions Craig R. Petersen may ask during your hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you build a case that meets the necessary legal standards.