Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's 48% approval rate covers her entire record since 2016, her latest-period approval rate of 57% provides a more current view of her decision-making. This latest-period figure sits 2 percentage points above the Rio Grande Valley TX office average of 55%. These figures are based on 3,242 decisions on record.
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 Wyatt'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, your judge's approval rate has shown notable variation. After a period of decline reaching a low of 33% in 2021, the trend shifted upward. The 2024 fiscal year saw a peak of 64% approval, followed by 60% in 2025 and 56% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent uptick reflects a departure from the lower rates observed in the middle of your judge's record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Wyatt'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 Rio Grande Valley TX hearing office
Kimberly O. Wyatt's most recent office on record is the Rio Grande Valley TX, where she has been part of a 4-judge bench. This office maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 55%. You can see the Rio Grande Valley TX Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Rio Grande Valley TX
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 4 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 3 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file (July 2026). Approval rates for this bench range from 40% to 65% on their records 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
Kimberly O. Wyatt's latest-period approval rate of 57% is 2 percentage points higher than the Rio Grande Valley TX office average of 55%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Kimberly O. Wyatt has fluctuated significantly. After reaching a low of 33% in 2021, the approval rate trended upward, reaching 64% in 2024 and 60% in 2025. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might impact your specific hearing strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing daily tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a prediction of your outcome. While Kimberly O. Wyatt has a 48% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual result depends on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to build a strong case.
