Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Silva currently maintains a 64% approval rate in the latest reporting period, which aligns with the San Bernardino Hearing Office average of 63% and exceeds the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 17,393 lifetime decisions, offering a reliable look at historical trends.
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 Silva'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
Over your 10-year tenure, you have demonstrated a consistent approach to disability claims. While your approval rate has fluctuated—notably reaching 74% in 2023—the overall trend reflects a stable decision-making philosophy. The latest period shows a 64% approval rate, which is consistent with your long-term performance. These patterns suggest you evaluate evidence based on established Social Security Administration standards.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Silva'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.
Hearing with Judge Silva? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the San Bernardino hearing office
The San Bernardino Hearing Office serves a large population across Southern California, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an office-wide latest approval rate of 63%. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can visit the San Bernardino Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the San Bernardino Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 52% to 64%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.