Approval rates
This judge's 65% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 21% to 76% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office. With 1,384 decisions on record, the data provides a clear view of past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Brounoff. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Brounoff'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 rate for J. M. Brounoff remained steady between 2016 and 2020. Starting at 63% in 2016, the rate reached 66% in 2020 across the 1,384 total decisions on record. This consistency suggests a stable approach to evaluating your evidence and medical testimony.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Brounoff'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 Dallas Downtown hearing office
J. M. Brounoff's most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office, with decisions there through September 2020. This office serves the local region in Texas and hosts a bench of 18 judges with varying approval rates. You can expect a formal process where the quality of your medical evidence remains the primary factor in the outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Dallas Downtown
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assigned judge is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 21% to 76% 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
J. M. Brounoff's 65% approval rate on record since 2016 is situated within the 21% to 76% range of the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Dallas Downtown hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of this office.
The approval rate for J. M. Brounoff remained steady, moving from 63% in 2016 to 66% in 2020. This consistency across 1,384 decisions indicates a stable decision-making pattern. An attorney can help you understand how this history might relate to your specific claim.
No. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, and you cannot choose your judge. Because assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
The 65% approval rate on record since 2016 for J. M. Brounoff is a statistical observation of past performance, not a guarantee of a future outcome. Every case is unique, and the strength of your medical evidence is the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths and weaknesses.
