Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Ronald L. Burton based on the total of 725 decisions on record since 2016. These figures provide a statistical look at past outcomes rather than a guarantee of future results.
Judge Burton is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Burton isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Burton'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
Ronald L. Burton decided 725 cases on record from 2016 through 2017. The approval rate was 78% in 2016 and 82% in 2017.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Burton'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 Fort Smith hearing office
The Fort Smith Hearing Office serves you in Arkansas and the surrounding region. This office has a bench of 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can expect a formal administrative process designed to evaluate the medical and vocational evidence of your disability claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Fort Smith
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the 3 who decided cases here in SSA's latest file range from 47% to 55% on their since-2016 records.
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
Ronald L. Burton has an approval rate of 79% on record through 2017. This can be compared to the 3 judges who decided cases at this office in the latest SSA file, who range from 47% to 55% on their since-2016 records. An attorney can help you understand how these statistics might relate to your specific case.
Ronald L. Burton's approval rate was 78% in 2016 and 82% in 2017. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, and the judge you are assigned is essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical look at past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the medical and vocational evidence you present to support your claim. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is organized and ready for your hearing.
