Approval rates
John P. Ramos has a 53% approval rate since 2016. This sits within the 40% to 86% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Syracuse hearing office. In the latest reporting period, your approval rate of 55% is 2 points lower than the office average of 57%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for your case.
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 Ramos'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, John P. Ramos has issued 3,381 decisions. Your approval rate has fluctuated over this period, reaching 64% in 2024 before moving to 55% in the most recent fiscal year. This pattern reflects your historical decision-making approach across the docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ramos'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 Syracuse hearing office
John P. Ramos's most recent office on record is the Syracuse hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 13 judges, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 57%. You can see the Syracuse hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Syracuse
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Syracuse hearing office, with 7 of them having decided cases in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 40% to 86% 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
John P. Ramos has an approval rate of 53% since 2016. This places you within the 40% to 86% range of the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Syracuse hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with this judge's history.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated. After an approval rate of 58% in 2016, the rate saw varying levels, including 64% in 2024, before reaching 55% in the most recent fiscal year. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this judge's specific bench.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure impartiality. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily activities and how your condition limits your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
