I was a Social Security Claims Rep for a couple of years back in 1973 and 74. Back then all disability applications were rejected unless there was just no question at all.
You then filed for a rehearing which is done by the state agency which does the actual approvals. As near as I could tell, no one won at this level, it was just a step you had to go through.
Now the administrative law judge was where most were approved. Maybe more were approved than rejected but that was a long time ago. Also a lot of people simply give up before that.
Next is an appeal to the national office and again no one wins there but it is the last step before your lawyer files a lawsuit, if you have one.
Not many win the lawsuits but SS will often agree to a compromise before the case actually ends up in Federal court. Often agreeing to grant you disability but only from a recent point.
At that time, Social Security Disability was very difficult to get. May have changed since then tho.
I fondly remember the day my sil won her SSD and it was mere coincidence that that very day, she was able to throw her cane away....it made for a nice prop....
Funny ive been missing an arm since my early teens.. I was given ssi at 18 and declined it to go to work... now coming in to my 60’s with a trashed back from compensating for the missing arm im not sure I would ever qualify for disability. .