Approval rates
The approval rate for Eileen Burlison is 27% based on 693 lifetime decisions. When compared to the Reno NV Hearing Office latest approval rate of 60%, this judge's pattern shows a distinct approach to case adjudication. These figures provide a baseline for understanding the judicial environment in Nevada, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific 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 Burlison'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 her 1 year on the bench, Eileen Burlison has maintained a consistent pattern in her rulings. With 693 lifetime decisions recorded, the data reflects a steady approach to the evidence presented in disability claims. While the latest reporting period shows a variance of 33 percentage points below the office average, this reflects the judge's specific application of Social Security Administration standards.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Burlison'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 Burlison? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Reno NV hearing office
The Reno NV Hearing Office serves you and other claimants throughout Nevada and the surrounding region. It is staffed by 5 judges who manage a high volume of disability hearings annually. The office currently reports a latest approval rate of 60%, reflecting the local administrative environment. You can visit the Reno NV Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Eileen Burlison is essentially random. Across the Reno NV Hearing Office, the bench exhibits a lifetime approval-rate range from 27% to 56%. This variation highlights why every case requires a tailored strategy regardless of the presiding judge.
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.