Approval rates
Understanding how your judge compares to their peers provides helpful context for your upcoming hearing. The bench at the Charlottesville office shows a broad range of approval rates, spanning from 20% to 82% across since-2016 records. This variance highlights why preparation is essential regardless of your specific assignment.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Annos. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Annos's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The record for Theodore W. Annos includes 1,148 decisions spanning from 2016 through 2019. The approval rate was 49% in 2016, 50% in 2017, 52% in 2018, and 46% in 2019. This pattern reflects the judge's consistent approach to case evaluation over the observed period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Annos's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Charlottesville hearing office
The Charlottesville hearing office serves you throughout the region. This office has a bench of 13 judges whose most recent record is at this location. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical evidence and work history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charlottesville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charlottesville office, with approval rates ranging from 20% to 82% on their since-2016 records.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Theodore W. Annos has a 50% approval rate on record since 2016. Among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Charlottesville, approval rates range from 20% to 82%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate for Theodore W. Annos was 49% in 2016, 50% in 2017, 52% in 2018, and 46% in 2019. These fluctuations are common and often depend on the specific evidence presented in each case. A qualified attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the quality of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare. An attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your daily limitations and work history. Working with an attorney can help you feel more prepared and confident during this process.
The 50% approval rate for Theodore W. Annos is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence supporting your disability claim. An attorney can help you review your case and identify the strongest evidence to present.
