Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2023 stands at 44%, recent data from the latest reporting period shows a 39% approval rate. This latest-period figure sits 3 points below the Middlesboro office average of 42%. These figures are based on a substantial volume of 1,347 decisions on record since 2023, providing a stable view of past patterns.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Appleton'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
Since January 2023, your judge's approval rate has shown a shifting trend. After an initial approval rate of 46% in 2023, the rate reached 49% in 2024 before moving to 43% in 2025 and 39% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. With 1,347 total decisions on record, this pattern reflects a recent decline in the approval rate.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Appleton'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 Middlesboro hearing office
Stacy Appleton's most recent office on record is the Middlesboro hearing office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you across the region and maintains a bench of 5 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 42%, reflecting the local environment for disability claims.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Middlesboro
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is the Middlesboro office, and 3 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 44% to 59% based on their records since 2016.
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
Stacy Appleton has an approval rate of 44% since 2023. Among the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is Middlesboro, the approval-rate range is 44% to 59% on their records since 2016. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. It was 46% in 2023 and 49% in 2024, followed by 43% in 2025 and 39% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might impact your specific hearing strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is best to focus on building a strong case with the help of an attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your disability. An attorney can help you ensure your case meets the necessary criteria for approval.
