Yes, the rankings from the Sq/CCs go to the OG/CC; are then modified as seen fit by the OG; and are then sent to the Wg/CC around July/August for the December board.
The boss I worked for didn't use the AAD as a primary discriminator...it was always job performance first, but in the event of a tie, it usually came down to the AAD because he knew that the board would probably do the same thing. At the wing level, I have no idea what black magic occurred to determine the rankings, but I know that a spreadsheet delineating who went to SOS; accomplished their AAD; did SOS by correspondence; was an SOS and/or other training program DG; and was an SOS Outstanding Contributor was requested by the Wing Staff for DP/P determination, etc.