Approval rates
Comparing a judge's approval rate to broader benchmarks helps provide context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Trunick maintains a 72% lifetime approval rate, which stands higher than the 53% average seen across the Moreno Valley office and the 58% national average. These figures are derived from 3,181 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Trunick'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 his 3 years on the bench, Judge Trunick has maintained a consistent approval pattern. His annual approval rates have fluctuated between 69% and 77%, showing a stable approach to the evidence presented in his courtroom. The most recent data indicates a return to higher approval levels, suggesting that his decision-making remains steady. This pattern reflects a consistent application of Social Security Administration standards throughout his tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Trunick'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 Trunick? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Moreno Valley hearing office
The Moreno Valley Hearing Office serves a significant population in California. With a bench of 6 judges, the office currently reports an average approval rate of 53%. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Moreno Valley 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 you cannot choose your judge. Within the Moreno Valley office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 44% to 72%. While these differences exist, the core requirements for proving disability remain consistent regardless of who presides over your hearing. You can view the Moreno Valley Hearing Office page for more information on the office's operations.
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.