Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their hearing office. While Michelle D. Cavadi has a 59% approval rate on record since 2016, the bench at the Greensboro hearing office shows a range of 50% to 89% for the same period. In the most recent reporting period, Michelle D. Cavadi's approval rate was 53%, compared to the office-wide rate of 65%. These figures are based on a significant volume of decisions, providing statistical context for your case.
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 Cavadi'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
Since 2016, Michelle D. Cavadi has issued 3,902 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, starting at 50% in 2016, peaking at 69% in 2019, and settling at 53% in the most recent partial year of 2026. This pattern indicates that while approval rates have varied over the last decade, your recent activity shows a shift from the higher approval levels seen in the middle of this period.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cavadi'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 Greensboro hearing office
The Greensboro hearing office serves claimants across North Carolina. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest reporting period was 65%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality is the primary factor in your outcome. You can see the Greensboro Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Greensboro
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Greensboro hearing office, and 8 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 50% to 89% since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Michelle D. Cavadi has a 59% approval rate on record since 2016. Among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Greensboro hearing office, approval rates range from 50% to 89%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. It began at 50% in 2016, reached a high of 69% in 2019, and was 53% in the most recent partial year of 2026. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of medical evidence and how well it meets SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence is sufficient for your hearing.
