Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, David W. Engel's 88% approval rate compares to a 62% office average, 68% state average, and 58% national average. Since 2016, David W. Engel has issued 4,173 decisions with an 80% approval rate, which sits within the 43% to 80% range of the 6 judges who decided cases at this office in SSA's latest file.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Engel'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, David W. Engel has issued 4,173 decisions. The yearly approval rate has moved from 72% in 2016 to 90% in 2026. While the rate fluctuated between 73% and 86% in the intervening years, the most recent 12 months sit above the record since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Engel'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 Tulsa OHO hearing office
The Tulsa OHO is the most recent office on record for David W. Engel, with activity documented through July 2026. The 6 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file maintained an office-wide approval rate of 62% over the 12-month window ending July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tulsa OHO, 6 judges decided cases here in SSA's latest file. These 6 judges range from 47% to 88% in their approval rates over the 12-month window.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Engel's 88%. Two of them last decided cases in Oklahoma. With too few close matches there, the rest come from SSA's Dallas region.
- 89% Approval rate, last 12 months Michael L. Harris
- 86% Approval rate, last 12 months Jodi B. Levine
- 88% Approval rate, last 12 months Joseph Liken
- 87% Approval rate, last 12 months Peter F. Gazda
- 86% Approval rate, last 12 months Helen F. Strong
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Engel and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, David W. Engel's 88% approval rate is higher than the 62% average for the Tulsa OHO. Among the 6 judges who decided cases at this office in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 47% to 88% over that same period. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific tendencies of the judge assigned to your case.
David W. Engel's approval rate has trended upward since 2016, starting at 72% and reaching 90% in 2026. While the rate has varied year-to-year, the most recent 12-month performance remains strong. If you are concerned about how these trends might impact your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an experienced attorney is the best way to prepare for any hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely answer questions from the judge and potentially a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented effectively.
