Approval rates
When comparing Rowena E. DeLoach to the broader landscape, her lifetime approval rate of 53% is evaluated against the latest office average of 59% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a docket of 9,173 lifetime decisions, providing a look at past trends. Understanding these comparisons helps you see where your case fits within the local Alexandria context. 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 DeLoach'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
Over 4 years on the bench, Rowena E. DeLoach demonstrated a consistent approval pattern between 2016 and 2018, with annual rates between 54% and 55%. The data shows a shift in the most recent reporting period, where the rate moved to 40%. This divergence from the lifetime average may reflect changes in the complexity of cases or the evidence presented during that timeframe. This trend pattern suggests that case preparation remains the most vital factor in your hearing.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge DeLoach'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.
Hearing with Judge DeLoach? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Alexandria hearing office
The Alexandria Hearing Office serves residents across Virginia, managing a volume of disability claims with a bench of 6 judges. The office currently reports an approval rate of 59%, reflecting local standards for evaluating medical and vocational evidence. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and work history. You can visit the Alexandria Hearing Office page for more information on the local roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Alexandria Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 32% to 66%. This variance highlights that the specific judge assigned to your case is a variable beyond your control. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.