Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both their long-term history and recent trends. Judge Burdette has issued 24,531 lifetime decisions, providing a significant data set for analysis. While the latest reporting period shows a 67% approval rate, this should be viewed against the office-wide average of 56% and the national average of 58%. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Burdette'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 decade on the bench, Judge Burdette has seen fluctuations in approval patterns. The data shows a period of stability around 2019 and 2020, followed by a dip in 2023, and a subsequent rise in the most recent reporting periods. These shifts often correspond to changes in case volume or the complexity of the evidence you present. The recent uptick reflects a continuation of a trend toward higher approval rates compared to the 2023 low point.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Burdette'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 Burdette? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Houston-Bissonnet hearing office
The Houston West Hearing Office serves a large population across Texas, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an approval rate that reflects the diverse nature of the cases heard in this region. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and work history. You can see the Houston West Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Across the Houston West office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 29% to 55%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical documentation. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.