Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Ramon E. Quinones based on his 1,070 total decisions on record since 2016. It also provides context by showing the range of approval rates for the 8 judges who decided cases at the San Juan hearing office in SSA's latest file. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predictions for your individual hearing.
Judge Quinones is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Quinones isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Quinones'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
Ramon E. Quinones decided 1,070 cases between 2016 and 2019. His approval rate was 88% in 2016, 81% in 2017, and 72% in 2018. The final year of his record in 2019 reflects a single decision. The data shows a shift in approval rates over the period from 2016 through 2019.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Quinones'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 San Juan hearing office
The San Juan hearing office serves you in Puerto Rico. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard hearing process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the most important factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Juan
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is San Juan, 8 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 8 judges have approval rates ranging from 65% to 83% on their records since 2016.
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
Ramon E. Quinones has an 82% approval rate on his record since 2016. This sits within the 65% to 83% range of the 8 judges who decided cases at the San Juan hearing office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how your specific case evidence aligns with these historical patterns.
Yes, the data shows a change in his approval rate from 88% in 2016 to 72% in 2018. Because these figures represent past decisions, they do not guarantee a specific outcome for your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the best way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Ramon E. Quinones approved 82% of cases on his record since 2016, every claim is unique. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence is ready for an ALJ hearing.
