Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same period to ensure accuracy. The 75% approval rate for Daniel A. Traver reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which you can compare against the 43% to 75% range observed among the bench at the Louisville hearing office over that same timeframe. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Traver. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Traver'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 Daniel A. Traver has shown a steady trend across the 1,052 decisions on record since 2016. The data indicates an approval rate of 74% in 2016, 75% in 2017, and 78% in 2018. This consistent pattern suggests a stable approach to case evaluation throughout the period covered by our records.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Traver'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 Louisville hearing office
The Louisville hearing office serves you and other claimants across Kentucky and the surrounding region. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Louisville
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Louisville hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 43% to 75% 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
Daniel A. Traver has an approval rate of 75% on record since 2016. This is at the upper end of the 43% to 75% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Louisville hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Daniel A. Traver has remained steady, moving from 74% in 2016 to 78% by 2018. This consistency is based on 1,052 total decisions on record. If you are concerned about how your case will be viewed, an attorney can help you evaluate your evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and hears testimony. You may be asked about your work history and how your impairments limit your daily activities. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Daniel A. Traver has a 75% approval rate on record since 2016, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
