Approval rates
Toby J. Buel Sr. holds a 71% lifetime approval rate, which falls within the 39% to 78% range seen across the Charleston WV bench. With 4,472 lifetime decisions, the data provides a stable view of his historical decision-making patterns. These aggregate rates reflect past decisions rather than predictions for your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Buel Sr.. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Buel Sr.'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 record for Toby J. Buel Sr. spans from 2016 to 2025. After an approval rate of 52% in 2016, his rate rose and has remained consistently high, reaching 78% in 2024 and 76% in 2025. This trend suggests a stable approach to evaluating your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Buel Sr.'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 Charleston WV hearing office
The Charleston WV hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout West Virginia. With 9 judges on record, the office manages a diverse caseload under the broader SSA framework. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges at this hearing office
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 9 judges on record at this office since 2016. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 39% to 78% on a lifetime basis.
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
Toby J. Buel Sr. has a 71% lifetime approval rate, which is on the higher end of the 39% to 78% range established by the 9 judges on record at the Charleston WV office. An attorney can help you prepare your case by highlighting the specific medical evidence required to meet the standards of your judge.
Yes, the data shows a positive trend. Starting at 52% in 2016, his approval rate climbed to 78% in 2024. An attorney can help you understand how these historical trends might relate to the current evidence in your file.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
A hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical evidence before the hearing date.
A 71% lifetime approval rate over 4,472 decisions indicates a consistent history, but it is not a guarantee of your specific outcome. Every case is decided on its own merits and the strength of the medical evidence you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear before the judge.