Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's since-2016 approval rate of 53% provides a long-term view, the latest-period data offers a snapshot of current trends. At the Denver office, the latest-period approval rate is 61%, while the national average stands at 58%. These figures are based on thousands of decisions, providing a foundation for your review.
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 Denney'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 Debra J. Denney has fluctuated across the 3,687 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of lower approval rates around 2022, the data shows a shift in the yearly trend, including a 63% approval rate in 2025. The latest-period approval rate of 56% sits below the office-wide average of 61%. This recent activity reflects the judge's established decision-making pattern over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Denney'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 Denver hearing office
The Denver Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Colorado and the surrounding region. With 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office manages a significant volume of disability hearings. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 61%, which provides context for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Denver
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 22 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates across this bench range from 31% to 75% 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
Judge Denney has an approval rate of 53% since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 31% to 75% seen among the 22 judges whose most recent office on record is the Denver Hearing Office. An attorney can help you understand how these local patterns might impact your specific case strategy.
The approval rate has varied year-over-year, starting at 55% in 2016 and reaching 56% in the latest partial 2026 period. While there have been fluctuations, such as a 43% rate in 2022 and a 63% rate in 2025, the judge's overall record since 2016 remains 53%. A qualified attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to be prepared for any judge by having your medical evidence and testimony fully organized. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You will likely be questioned by the judge and potentially a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform work. Having an attorney can help you navigate these questions and present your case effectively.
Approval rates are aggregate statistics based on past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you meet the SSA's strict disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
