Approval rates
Judge Bryant maintains an 83% lifetime approval rate, which stands 34 points above the current NHC Baltimore office average of 49%. Compared to the state of Maryland at 59% and the national average of 58%, his record reflects a distinct approach to disability adjudication. These figures are derived from a docket of 10,715 lifetime decisions. Aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than individual hearing outcomes.
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 Bryant'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 5 years on the bench, Judge Bryant has maintained a high approval rate, peaking at 86% in 2017. While the data shows a decline to 74% in the most recent reporting period, the overall trend remains above regional and national benchmarks. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating medical evidence and vocational factors. The recent shift may reflect changes in the complexity of cases assigned to his docket.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bryant'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 Bryant? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Nhc Baltimore hearing office
The NHC Baltimore Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Maryland and the surrounding region. As one of 6 judges at this location, Judge Bryant contributes to a high-volume environment where the office-wide approval rate currently sits at 49%. You can expect a professional, evidence-focused proceeding designed to determine your eligibility under the Social Security Act. You can see the NHC Baltimore Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the NHC Baltimore office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 46% to 83%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical documentation and testimony. You can find more information on the NHC Baltimore 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.