Approval rates
Judge Boren’s 53% lifetime approval rate is based on a docket of 14,740 decisions. While the judge's latest approval rate trends 4 percentage points above the Atlanta North office average, it remains 5 points below both the Georgia state and national averages. These figures serve as a statistical baseline for understanding the local hearing environment.
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 Boren'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 a 7-year tenure, Judge Boren’s approval patterns have shown fluctuations. After an initial high of 65% in 2017, the rate reached 45% in 2019 before stabilizing. The most recent data indicates a return to 54% in 2022. This pattern reflects the inherent variability in case mix and evidence quality that characterizes the Social Security Administration hearing process.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Boren'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 Boren? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Atlanta North hearing office
The Atlanta North Hearing Office serves a large population in Georgia, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 49%. You can visit the Atlanta North Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Atlanta North Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot request a specific judge. The office's 6 ALJs range from 22% to 62% in lifetime approval rates. This variance highlights why thorough preparation is essential regardless of your assigned judge.
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.