Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While the judge has a 44% approval rate across all decisions since 2016, recent data shows a 46% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This sits against an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%, a state rate of 61%, and a national rate of 58%. These figures provide context for recent activity compared to broader benchmarks.
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 Radensky'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 judge's approval rate has remained relatively steady since 2016, with 4,339 total decisions on record. Yearly trends show fluctuations, ranging from a low of 40% in 2017 to a high of 48% in 2019. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 46% approval rate, which is consistent with historical performance.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Radensky'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 Orange hearing office
Michael D. Radensky's most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office. This office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%. With 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, you can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Orange
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 12 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates for this bench range from 19% to 68% 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
Michael D. Radensky has a 44% approval rate on record since 2016. Among the 12 judges whose most recent office on record is the Orange hearing office, approval rates range from 19% to 68%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The judge's approval rate has remained steady, with 4,339 decisions on record since 2016. While yearly rates have fluctuated between 40% and 48%, the most recent period shows a 46% approval rate. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific 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, working with an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is prepared for any judge.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and daily limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
Approval rates are statistical summaries of past decisions and are not predictions for any individual hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your functional limitations. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
