Approval rates
Comparing David R. Wurm's performance requires looking at both long-term records and recent trends. While your approval rate since 2016 is 50%, your latest-period rate stands at 52%. This latest figure aligns with the San Antonio office average of 52%, though it remains below the state rate of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding the local hearing environment.
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 Wurm'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 2016, David R. Wurm has issued 4,547 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuation, moving from 54% in 2016 to a low of 43% in 2021 before trending to 52% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date data across 453 decisions. This recent activity suggests a steady pattern of adjudication that remains consistent with the broader office environment.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wurm'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 San Antonio hearing office
David R. Wurm's most recent office on record is the San Antonio hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you across the region and maintains a bench of 23 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 52%, you can expect a rigorous review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Antonio office, 17 of whom decided cases in the latest file. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 18% to 70% since 2016.
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
David R. Wurm's 50% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 18% to 70% range observed among the 23 judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this office.
David R. Wurm's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 54% in 2016 and reaching 52% in the most recent partial year. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case strategy, and an attorney can help you navigate these shifts.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, which ensures that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of your assigned judge.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. Having an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you will face during this process.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a guarantee of how your specific case will be decided. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
