Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance to broader benchmarks provides context for your upcoming hearing. Judge Gatto's 57% lifetime approval rate is measured against the latest office-wide approval rate of 60% and the national average of 58%. With 23,556 decisions on record, this data offers a stable view of his historical decision-making. 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 Gatto'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 his 10-year tenure, Judge Gatto has shown an upward trend in his approval rates. Starting at 42% in 2016, his annual approval frequency has climbed, reaching 70% in 2025. This shift indicates a move toward higher allowance rates in recent years compared to his early career. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, which may be influenced by changes in case evidence or legal standards.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gatto'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 Gatto? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Las Vegas hearing office
The Las Vegas Hearing Office serves claimants across Nevada, managing a high volume of disability cases. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 60% in the latest reporting period. You should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical documentation and work history. You can see the Las Vegas Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment is essentially random. Within the Las Vegas Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 35% to 68%. Because you cannot choose your judge, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence. The guidance for your preparation 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.