Approval rates
When preparing for your hearing, it is helpful to look at how a judge's approval rate compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Eason has maintained a 44% lifetime approval rate over 23,959 decisions. In the latest reporting period, the judge's approval rate was 49%, compared to the 56% office average and the 58% national average. These figures represent historical trends rather than a fixed outcome for your specific claim.
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 Eason'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 10 years on the bench, Judge Eason has shown a varied approval trend. While the rate was 35% in 2016, recent years have seen fluctuations, including a 53% rate in 2024 and 49% in 2025. This pattern suggests that the judge's approach to evidence and case requirements has evolved over time. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, indicating that the judge's current decision-making remains consistent with their long-term career average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Eason'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 Eason? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Houston-Bissonnet hearing office
The Houston-Bissonnet Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants in Texas, managing a high volume of disability cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an active docket that requires consistent case management. You should expect a professional environment focused on the specific medical evidence presented in your file. You can visit the Houston-Bissonnet Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Houston-Bissonnet office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 44% to 72%. This variation highlights why it is important to be prepared for any judge you might draw. The guidance for your preparation remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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.