Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe to ensure accuracy. The 38% approval rate for W. Thomas Bundy reflects all decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 38% to 79% range observed among the 6 judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Bundy. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Bundy'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 W. Thomas Bundy has remained relatively steady across the 414 decisions on record since 2016. The data shows a 39% approval rate in 2016, followed by 34% in 2017. These figures represent the full scope of the judge's recorded activity at the Shreveport office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Bundy'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 Shreveport hearing office
W. Thomas Bundy's most recent office on record is the Shreveport hearing office, with decisions there through September 2017. This office serves the surrounding region of Louisiana. The bench at this location includes 6 judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport. You can see the Shreveport Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 6 judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport, with approval rates ranging from 38% to 79% on their records since 2016.
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
Judge W. Thomas Bundy has a 38% approval rate on record since 2016. This places the judge at the lower end of the 38% to 79% range seen among the 6 judges whose most recent office on record is Shreveport. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific expectations of this bench.
The approval rate for W. Thomas Bundy has held relatively steady, moving from 39% in 2016 to 34% in 2017. These 414 decisions on record since 2016 show a consistent pattern of evaluation. A qualified attorney can help you understand how your evidence aligns with these past trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of a specific outcome for your hearing. Judge W. Thomas Bundy has approved 38% of the 414 cases on record since 2016. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you present your limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for this.
