Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Robert M. Butler based on 1,718 decisions on record from 2016 through 2020. The 6 judges who decided cases at this office in SSA's latest file show approval rates between 40% and 53% on their records since 2016.
Judge Butler 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 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Butler 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 Butler'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
Robert M. Butler decided 1,718 cases between 2016 and 2020. The approval rate was 67% in 2016, 79% in 2017, 80% in 2018, 86% in 2019, and 81% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Butler'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 NHC St Louis hearing office
The NHC St Louis is the most recent office on record for Robert M. Butler, with his last decision recorded there in September 2020. This office is supported by a bench of 15 judges whose most recent records are at this location.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC St Louis
Among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC St Louis, 6 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file and range from 40% to 53% 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
Robert M. Butler's 79% approval rate on record through 2020 sits above the 40% to 53% range observed among the 6 judges who decided cases at the NHC St Louis in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these past patterns might relate to your specific hearing.
Robert M. Butler's approval rate was 67% in 2016, 79% in 2017, 80% in 2018, 86% in 2019, and 81% in 2020. An 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 random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing process regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence in your file and hears testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your medical evidence is organized and your testimony is focused on the requirements of your claim.
Approval rates are a statistical summary of past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA disability criteria. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
