Approval rates
The approval rate for Larry B. Creson is based on 312 lifetime decisions recorded between 2016 and 2017. When evaluating this figure, it is helpful to note that the Memphis hearing office bench maintains a lifetime approval-rate range between 44% and 80%. This data provides a statistical baseline for the office. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Creson. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Creson'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 decision record for Larry B. Creson spans from 2016 to 2017, covering 312 lifetime decisions. His approval trend remained high throughout this period, reflecting a consistent approach to the cases assigned to his docket. While yearly fluctuations can occur due to changes in case complexity or medical evidence, the data shows a stable pattern of outcomes. This history serves as a reference point for understanding how your case may be processed.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Creson'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.
Reading this because a claim was denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
About the Memphis hearing office
The Memphis hearing office serves you throughout Tennessee and the surrounding region. With a bench of 14 judges on record, the office handles a diverse volume of disability claims. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Memphis 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. The Memphis hearing office features 14 judges on record since 2016, 7 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 44% to 80% on a lifetime basis. 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
Larry B. Creson has a lifetime approval rate of 80%, which sits at the upper end of the 44% to 80% range observed among the 14 judges on record at the Memphis office. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with the expectations of judges in this office.
The data for Larry B. Creson covers the period from 2016 to 2017, during which he maintained a high approval rate across 312 lifetime decisions. This consistency suggests a steady approach to case evaluation. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the evidentiary standards typically required in this jurisdiction.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making the assignment process random. Regardless of your assigned judge, an attorney can help you organize your medical records to present the strongest possible case.
A judge's lifetime approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and is not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it satisfies 20 CFR Part 404 requirements. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence and prepare for the specific nuances of your hearing.