Approval rates
When evaluating your hearing prospects, it is helpful to look at how a judge's history compares to broader benchmarks. Judge Eppler's 36% lifetime approval rate is measured against the Columbus Hearing Office latest rate of 57% and the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from 965 lifetime decisions made during her tenure. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Eppler'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 her 4 years on the bench, Judge Eppler has seen fluctuations in her annual approval patterns. Her yearly data shows a low of 21% in 2016, followed by a peak of 63% in 2018, before returning to 36% in 2019. This variance suggests that case mix or shifts in evidentiary standards may influence outcomes from year to year. The recent data reflects a return to her established lifetime average after a period of higher approvals.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Eppler'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 Eppler? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Columbus hearing office
The Columbus Hearing Office serves a large population across Ohio, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains a latest approval rate of 57%. You should be prepared for a rigorous review of your medical records and vocational history. You can visit the Columbus Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Columbus Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 36% to 68%. This variation highlights why your specific case evidence is the most important factor in your hearing. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.