Approval rates
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Roxanne Fuller's 61% approval rate is measured against the NHC Chicago office rate of 54%, the state rate of 54%, and the national rate of 58%. These figures are based on 114 decisions. Comparing these rates provides context on how recent activity aligns with broader office and national trends.
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 Fuller'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 January 2016, Roxanne Fuller has issued 3,539 decisions. The approval rate has fluctuated over this period, moving from 51% in 2016 to 62% in 2026. The most recent 12 months to July 31, 2026, show a 61% approval rate, which sits above the 51% approval rate recorded across the entire period since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Fuller'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 NHC Chicago hearing office
NHC Chicago is the most recent office on record for Roxanne Fuller, with activity documented through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants in the region, with 19 judges on record as having this as their most recent office. The office maintained a 54% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Chicago
The Social Security Administration assigns cases randomly. Among the 9 judges who decided cases at NHC Chicago in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 17% to 88% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 19 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with 9 of them having decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
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 Fuller's 61%. All five last decided cases in Illinois.
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months Lovert F. Bassett
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months Helen Valkavich
- 62% Approval rate, last 12 months Stephen Pope
- 59% Approval rate, last 12 months Kevin Vodak
- 59% Approval rate, last 12 months Brian Lucas
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 Fuller 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, Roxanne Fuller's 61% approval rate is higher than the 54% average for the NHC Chicago office. Among the 9 judges who decided cases at this office in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 17% to 88%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
Roxanne Fuller's approval rate has varied over the years, starting at 51% in 2016 and reaching 61% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. A qualified attorney can help you understand how your case evidence fits into these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and documentation you provide. An attorney can help you organize this evidence to present the strongest possible case.
