Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2017 is 43%, recent performance metrics provide a different snapshot. In the latest reporting period, your judge's approval rate was 44%, compared to the Milwaukee office rate of 51%, the Wisconsin state rate of 56%, and the national rate of 58%. These figures rely on a significant volume of decisions to provide statistical context.
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 Syrjanen'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 Dean Syrjanen has fluctuated across the 2,382 decisions on record since 2017. After an approval rate of 50% in 2018, the rate shifted to 35% in 2019 and 38% in 2020 and 2021. The rate then rose to 49% in 2022, 52% in 2023, and 50% in 2024, before reaching 47% in 2025 and 44% in 2026. This trend reflects the variation in your judge's decision-making over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Syrjanen'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 Milwaukee hearing office
The Milwaukee hearing office serves claimants across Wisconsin. As of the most recent office on record in July 2026, the office maintains a bench of 13 judges with varying approval patterns. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence of your claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Milwaukee
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office. Approval rates for these judges range from 27% to 56% on their respective records. Your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Judge Syrjanen has an approval rate of 43% on record since 2017. This sits within the broader range of 27% to 56% observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Milwaukee hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your evidence for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated. After reaching 35% in 2019, the rate climbed to 52% in 2023 before settling at 44% in the most recent reporting period. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might impact your specific case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome with the help of an experienced attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history, daily limitations, and medical treatments. Having an attorney by your side can ensure your testimony is clear and your evidence is properly presented.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your hearing outcome. While Judge Syrjanen's 43% rate provides context, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you build a case that addresses the specific requirements of the Social Security Administration.
