Approval rates
The approval rate for Stanley Petraschuk is based on 155 lifetime decisions recorded between 2016 and 2017. When compared to the broader Dover hearing office, where lifetime approval rates among judges range from 42% to 90%, his record stands at the upper end of that spectrum. 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 Petraschuk. 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 Petraschuk'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 decision record for Stanley Petraschuk spans from 2016 to 2017, during which he issued 155 decisions. His approval rate was 90% in 2016 and 91% in 2017. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim over the period for which data is available.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Petraschuk'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 Dover hearing office
The Dover hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Delaware. This office maintains a bench of 6 judges on record. You can expect a professional environment focused on the review of your medical and vocational evidence. See the Dover Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 6 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates vary significantly across this bench, with lifetime figures ranging from 42% to 90%.
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 Petraschuk has a lifetime approval rate of 90% across 155 decisions. This places him at the higher end of the 42% to 90% lifetime approval range seen among the 6 judges on record at the Dover office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively for this judge.
The approval rate for Stanley Petraschuk has remained steady, with 90% in 2016 and 91% in 2017. This indicates a consistent decision-making pattern over the recorded period. If you are concerned about how your specific medical conditions align with these patterns, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The SSA uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your SSDI hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your evidence and may hear testimony from medical or vocational experts. The judge will ask questions to determine if your condition meets the Social Security Act definition of disability. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your case. While Stanley Petraschuk has a 90% lifetime approval rate, every case is unique and depends on the specific medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you build a strong case that addresses the judge's focus areas.