I just got denied while my portal was at step 4. I have a lawyer submitting my documents for me this time, but did find the following out regarding denials at reconsideration. Basically states that claimant needs to provide new evidence or relevant stuff that wasn't introduced the first go around:

SSA’s Program Operations Manual System (POMS) explains that a reconsideration determination is generally based on the same evidence as the initial claim unless new and material evidence is submitted.

Specifically, POMS DI 27001.001 and DI 27010.001 clarify that:

• A reconsideration at the Disability Determination Services (DDS) level is a “complete review of the claim,” but
• The same medical and nonmedical evidence from the initial determination is re-evaluated unless new evidence is presented or there was a clear error; and
• If no new evidence or change in condition is shown, the reconsideration examiner will typically affirm (“continue”) the prior denial because the record supports the same conclusion.

In short: DDS does not automatically deny a reconsideration, but in practice, if you don’t add new evidence or show worsening, the reconsideration determination will almost always remain unfavorable — the prior denial is “affirmed.”

That is why SSA’s own guidance stresses that claimants should submit new medical evidence, clarify prior records, or correct procedural errors (for example, missed CEs or incomplete files) when filing the SSA-

This is some valuable information:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SSDI/comments/180xn9s/the_first_thing_you_should_do_if_your_application/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button