Approval rates
Comparing judicial approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Ahavaha Pyrtel has an approval rate of 67% across all 3,469 decisions on record since 2016, the most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 63%. This latest-period figure sits 6 points below the office average of 69%, 7 points above the state average of 56%, and 5 points above the national average of 58%.
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 Pyrtel'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 approval rate for Ahavaha Pyrtel has fluctuated since 2016. After a high of 77% in 2024, the most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a rate of 63% over 305 decisions. This latest period represents a shift from the previous year's performance, though it remains within the broader context of the 3,469 total decisions on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pyrtel'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 Madison hearing office
Ahavaha Pyrtel's most recent office on record is the Madison hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 8 judges with varying approval patterns. You can expect a formal hearing process where the focus remains on the specific medical and vocational evidence you provide.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Madison
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates for this bench range from 50% to 78% since 2016. 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
Ahavaha Pyrtel has an approval rate of 67% since 2016, which sits within the 50% to 78% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Madison. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 59% in 2022 to a high of 77% in 2024. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. Having an attorney can help you prepare your case and present your evidence effectively.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of how your specific case will be decided. An attorney can help you understand how your unique evidence fits into the hearing process.
