Approval rates
Lyle Eastham's 51% approval rate on record since 2022 provides a baseline for understanding how this judge has historically evaluated claims. This figure sits within the broader range of 21% to 79% observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Eastham. 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 Eastham'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 November 2022, Lyle Eastham has issued 1,111 decisions. The yearly trend shows approval rates of 47% in 2023, 49% in 2024, and 56% in 2025. This shift reflects the volume of allowances processed within the Lexington jurisdiction.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Eastham'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 you and other claimants across Kentucky and the surrounding region. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, which maintains an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 50%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge assigned to your hearing is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 21% to 79%.
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
Lyle Eastham has an approval rate of 51% across 1,111 decisions on record since 2022. This sits within the 21% to 79% range of approval rates for the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a trend of 47% in 2023, 49% in 2024, and 56% in 2025. While these numbers fluctuate, they represent the judge's historical pattern on record. An attorney can help you understand how your specific medical evidence aligns with these trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process random. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned.
The 51% approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and the quality of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths.
