Approval rates
Comparing an approval rate requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While the overall record since 2016 provides a long-term view, recent performance is measured against the latest reporting period. With 4,220 decisions on record, the data provides a look at how these cases have been handled. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Crocker'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 October 2016, the approval rate for Boyce Crocker has fluctuated. The most recent reporting period shows an approval rate of 58%, which sits 8 percentage points above the Lexington office's latest-period rate of 50%. This recent figure represents a continuation of historical activity, where the approval rate has moved between 47% and 58% in recent years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Crocker'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 Lexington hearing office
The Lexington hearing office serves claimants across Kentucky and the surrounding region. It maintains a bench of 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 50%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 21% to 79% 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
In the latest reporting period, Boyce Crocker's approval rate was 58%, which is 8 percentage points higher than the 50% average for the Lexington office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge you are assigned.
The approval rate has fluctuated over the years, ranging from a low of 47% in 2018 and 2025 to a high of 58% in 2026. These variations are common in SSDI dockets and often depend on the specific mix of cases and evidence presented. A qualified attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how your specific hearing will go. While Boyce Crocker has a 53% approval rate on record since 2016, your outcome depends primarily on the medical documentation and testimony provided. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
