Updated July 2026 · SSA Public

Administrative Law Judge

Pyrtel, Ahavaha

MADISONWisconsin Trending up

+5.6 pts vs national average

63.3%lifetime approval

vs baselines

This judge63.3%

MADISON58.5%

National avg57.7%

Total decisions

275

Fully favorable

142

51.6%

Partially favorable

11.6%

Denials

101

36.7%

Total dispositions

305

Dismissals

9.8%

Awards

174

3-year trend

Rising

FY2026 decision breakdown

Fully fav.

Partial

Denied

Fully fav. 51.6%Partially fav. 11.6%Denied 36.7%

Approval rate history

FY2017

66.0%150 dec

FY2018

64.9%433 dec

FY2019

72.3%462 dec

FY2020

64.5%355 dec

FY2021

60.6%376 dec

FY2022

59.2%299 dec

FY2023

66.0%318 dec

FY2024

76.7%390 dec

Above national Below national National avg

Other ALJs at MADISON (5)

Freyberg, Gary A.
51 dec76.5%
Jacobson, Joseph
349 dec75.4%
Parker, Guila
108 dec60.2%
Monahan, Camille
124 dec50.8%
Schaefer, Michael
4 dec25.0%

Judges in Wisconsin with the most decisions

Schwalbach, Nicholas J.
MILWAUKEE384 dec
Bedwell, Brent C
MILWAUKEE338 dec
Rouf, Arman
MILWAUKEE332 dec
Shenkenberg, William
MILWAUKEE323 dec
O'Grady, Margaret J
MILWAUKEE287 dec

Next step

Estimate approval odds

See SSA historical base rates for a claim by state, condition, age, and stage — then plan around the hearing-stage odds.