Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While Gary Ball has an approval rate of 66% since 2016, his latest-period approval rate of 64% sits 4 points above the Baltimore office's latest-period average of 60%. These figures are derived from a volume of 2,761 decisions on record, providing a view of his historical decision-making.
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 Ball'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 approval trend for Gary Ball has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching a peak of 78% in 2024, the rate shifted to 64% in the most recent partial fiscal year. This pattern across 2,761 decisions on record suggests that while the judge maintains a consistent overall average, outcomes vary from year to year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ball'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 Baltimore hearing office
Gary Ball's most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office, which serves claimants across Maryland. This office is staffed by a bench of 24 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 60%, providing a benchmark for the region's hearing outcomes.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records. Of these, 8 judges decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026.
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
Gary Ball's latest-period approval rate of 64% is 4 points higher than the 60% average for the Baltimore office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the 2,761 decisions on record since 2016, ranging from a low of 54% in 2016 to a high of 78% in 2024. An attorney can help you understand how these historical patterns might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, so the judge you draw is essentially random. A qualified attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. Having an attorney present can help ensure your evidence is presented clearly, which is vital for any judge, including Gary Ball. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
