Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how different judges manage their dockets. The 53% approval rate for Dean Yanohira is based on 122 decisions since 2016. Judges whose most recent office on record is this one range from 50% to 78% on their since-2016 records. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Yanohira. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Yanohira'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
The 122 decisions on record for Dean Yanohira since 2016 show a consistent pattern of adjudication. The data window, spanning from January 2016 to September 2016, reflects a period where the 53% approval rate remained steady. This volume of cases provides a stable view of past activity. The pattern indicates how evidence and case requirements were evaluated during that specific timeframe.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Yanohira'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 Norwalk hearing office
Dean Yanohira's most recent office on record is the Norwalk hearing office, with decisions there through September 2016. This office serves the California region and maintains a bench of 7 judges whose most recent records are located here. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Norwalk hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Norwalk
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 7 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 50% to 78%. While rates vary across this bench, the fundamental process of presenting evidence remains the same. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same 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
Dean Yanohira has an approval rate of 53% based on 122 decisions since 2016. Other judges whose most recent office on record is this one range from 50% to 78%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned.
The approval rate for Dean Yanohira has held steady at 53% across the 122 decisions on record between January 2016 and September 2016. This consistency provides a clear view of past trends. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Dean Yanohira's 53% rate reflects his history since 2016, but your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation to strengthen your claim.
