Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Leeanne Foster maintains a 60% lifetime approval rate, her latest-period performance shows a 63% approval rate, which is 7 percentage points above the current 56% average for the Valparaiso IN office. These figures are derived from a substantial volume of cases, providing a baseline for understanding her decision-making history.
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 Foster'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 record for Leeanne Foster shows 3,992 total decisions. Her approval rate has fluctuated over the years, including a 67% approval rate in 2024. The most recent data indicates a 63% approval rate, reflecting her established approach to evaluating disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Foster'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 Valparaiso IN hearing office
The Valparaiso IN hearing office serves you across the region, managing a diverse caseload of disability applications. With 11 judges on record, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 56%. You can expect a formal hearing process where evidence quality and medical documentation are the primary factors in your decision.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is random. At the Valparaiso IN office, there are 11 judges on record since 2016, 6 of whom are reported in the latest SSA period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 42% to 83% on a lifetime basis.
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
Leeanne Foster has a 60% lifetime approval rate. This places her within the broader office-wide lifetime range of 42% to 83% for the 11 judges on record at this office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Leeanne Foster's approval rate has seen yearly variations, ranging from 55% in 2022 to 67% in 2024. Her latest-period approval rate is 63%, which is consistent with her long-term record of 60%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. You cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of who is assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and symptoms. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence for the hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and not a prediction of your specific outcome. While Leeanne Foster's 60% lifetime rate provides context, the strength of your medical evidence remains the most important factor. An attorney can help you identify the evidence needed to support your claim.