Approval rates
Donald P. Cole has a 48% approval rate on his 1,307 decisions recorded since 2016. This figure sits within the 37% to 68% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Cole. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Cole'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
The approval rate for Donald P. Cole showed variation across his 1,307 decisions on record since 2016. He approved 46% of cases in 2016, 50% in 2017, 51% in 2018, and 40% in 2019.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Cole'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 San Diego hearing office
The San Diego hearing office is the most recent office on record for 15 judges. You can see the San Diego hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Diego
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office, with approval rates on their since-2016 records ranging from 37% to 68%.
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
Donald P. Cole has a 48% approval rate on his 1,307 decisions recorded since 2016. This falls within the 37% to 68% range of approval rates for the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare for a hearing in this specific office.
Yes, the approval rate for Donald P. Cole has fluctuated over time. It was 46% in 2016, 50% in 2017, 51% in 2018, and 40% in 2019. An attorney can help you evaluate how your case evidence aligns with current standards.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. Since you cannot choose your judge, an attorney can help you prepare a robust case regardless of who is assigned. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing in this specific office.
An SSDI hearing is a formal administrative proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is clearly presented.
The 48% approval rate for Donald P. Cole is a historical statistic, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence is the most important factor in a decision. An attorney can help you determine if your case is well-positioned for a favorable outcome.
