Approval rates
The NHC Falls Church hearing office features a bench with lifetime approval rates ranging from 29% to 80%. Rosanne M. Dummer sits within this range, and her record of 2,986 decisions provides a look at her approach to disability claims. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Dummer. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Dummer'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 2016, the approval pattern for Rosanne M. Dummer has shown shifts. After a period of relative stability, the data indicates a recent upward trend in approvals, with rates reaching 75% in 2024 and 82% in 2025. This recent activity reflects a departure from earlier decision-making years. These fluctuations may stem from changes in the complexity of cases or the quality of evidence presented in recent dockets.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Dummer'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 NHC Falls Church hearing office
The NHC Falls Church hearing office serves claimants throughout the region, maintaining a bench of 14 judges who handle a volume of disability appeals. You should expect a formal process focused on the specific medical documentation supporting your claim. You can see the /disability-benefits/hearing-offices/falls-church-DC Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. There are 14 judges on record at this office since 2016, and their individual approval rates vary across the bench. 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
Rosanne M. Dummer's 56% lifetime approval rate places her among the 14 judges on record at the NHC Falls Church office. With a range of 29% to 80% across the office, it is clear that judge assignment plays a role in the hearing process. An attorney can help you understand how to tailor your evidence to meet the standards of this specific office.
Yes, the data shows an evolution in her decision-making. While her early years saw approval rates in the 48% to 54% range, the most recent data from 2024 and 2025 shows an increase to 75% and 82% respectively. An attorney can help you determine if your case aligns with the current evidentiary expectations at this hearing office.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare a robust case that addresses the common requirements of any judge at the NHC Falls Church office.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your medical evidence is organized effectively.
A judge's approval rate is a historical summary of their past 2,986 decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific claim. Your outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well you demonstrate your inability to work. An attorney can help you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your file before you step into the hearing room.