Approval rates
You will find that Brian Yamada maintains a lifetime approval rate of 54% across 3,200 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, your approval rate of 53% aligns closely with the Moreno Valley Hearing Office average, though it trails the California state average of 59%. These figures are drawn from a significant volume of cases, providing a reliable look at historical decision-making trends.
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 Yamada'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 joining the bench in 2023, Brian Yamada has presided over 3,200 lifetime decisions. After an initial period in 2023, your approval rate stabilized in 2024 and 2025, showing a consistent approach to case evaluation. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern, with you maintaining a predictable rhythm in your rulings. This stability suggests that you follow a clear framework when reviewing medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Yamada'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 Yamada? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Moreno Valley hearing office
The Moreno Valley Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across California, managing a high volume of SSDI and SSI hearings. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate that reflects the regional complexity of disability claims. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on your medical documentation and work history. See the Moreno Valley Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Moreno Valley Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 44% to 60%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful for your preparation.
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.