An On the Record decision occurs when an Administrative Law Judge, prior to a hearing having been held, grants an approval to a disability claimant.

When an on-the-record decision is made, however, it is because the medical evidence available to an ALJ is strong to enough to validate an approval without a formal hearing being held.

On-the-record decisions are, as a matter of course, always approvals.

If a claimant's case is not approved following an on-the-record review, a claimant must then be given the opportunity to have the case presented at a hearing.

Can an on-the-record review be requested? Yes.

An attorney or non-attorney claimant's representative can make a request for an on-the-record review simply by contacting the Office of Hearings and Appeals. Claimants who are unrepresented, of course, can make this request as well.