Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. While the national average approval rate sits at 58%, Judge Barto maintains a lifetime rate of 44% based on 1,914 decisions. This data reflects his tenure in the Charlottesville Hearing Office, where the latest office-wide approval rate is 44%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Barto'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
Over his 1 year on the bench, Judge Barto has maintained a consistent approach to disability claims. With 1,914 lifetime decisions, his approval rate of 44% reflects a steady pattern of adjudication within the Social Security Administration framework. The latest reporting period shows his approval rate is currently aligned with the office average. This consistency suggests a stable decision-making process that remains focused on the specific medical evidence you present in your file.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Barto'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.
Hearing with Judge Barto? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Charlottesville hearing office
The Charlottesville Hearing Office serves residents across Virginia, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office currently reports an approval rate of 44%. If you are appearing here, you should be prepared for a review of your medical records and vocational history. You can see the Charlottesville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Charlottesville Hearing Office, the bench is comprised of 6 judges whose lifetime approval rates range from 39% to 82%. This variance highlights why focusing on the quality of your own medical documentation is essential. You can find more information on the Charlottesville Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.