Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Gonzalo Vallecillo has a 45% approval rate across his total record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate of 64% sits 5 percentage points above the Tampa OHO office average of 59%. These figures are derived from a docket of 2,574 decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Vallecillo'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
Since April 2016, the approval rate for Gonzalo Vallecillo has shifted. After a period of lower approval rates between 2017 and 2018, the trend moved upward, reaching 64% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This latest-period rate diverges from the long-term average of 45% on record. The recent data reflects a trend that may be influenced by changes in case mix or the quality of evidence presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Vallecillo'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 Tampa OHO hearing office
Gonzalo Vallecillo's most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves claimants across Florida. With 16 judges on its bench, the office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 59%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence. See the Tampa OHO Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tampa OHO
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tampa OHO, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 31% to 90% based on their records since 2016. Preparation remains consistent 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
Gonzalo Vallecillo's latest-period approval rate of 64% is 5 percentage points higher than the Tampa OHO office average of 59%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has trended upward over time. While his rate across the 2,574 decisions on record since 2016 is 45%, his latest-period rate is 64%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
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 a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your work history and limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
Approval rates are a probability cloud from past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational documentation you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is fully developed.
