Approval rates
Understanding how a judge's approval rate compares to their peers can help you set expectations for your hearing. The data below shows the approval rate for Douglas M. Rawald based on 164 decisions on record since 2016. We compare this against the range of approval rates for the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the same as this judge's. These figures reflect historical trends rather than specific outcomes for your case.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Rawald. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Rawald'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 Douglas M. Rawald is based on 164 decisions on record since 2016. During 2016, the approval rate was 39%. Because this data window captures a specific period of time, it provides a stable view of the judge's past decision-making patterns. These trends illustrate how cases have been handled historically at this office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Rawald'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 Baltimore hearing office
Douglas M. Rawald's most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office, with records through September 2016. This office serves you if you are in Maryland and the surrounding region. The bench at this office consists of 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can see the Baltimore hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records. 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
Douglas M. Rawald has an approval rate of 39% on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 32% to 79% for the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Douglas M. Rawald is 39% based on 164 decisions on record since 2016. This figure represents the total activity on record for the judge during that period. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these patterns 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, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. Working with an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the hearing process.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your testimony. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
