Approval rates
Judge Gray maintains a lifetime approval rate of 58% based on 8,658 decisions. When comparing this to the most recent reporting period, the judge's rate sits 12 points below the current Chattanooga office average of 70%, while remaining exactly in line with both the state and national averages of 58%. This data provides a statistical baseline for the judge's 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 Gray'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 a 4-year tenure, your judge's approval patterns have shown fluctuation. The data indicates a peak in 2018 at 63% followed by a shift to 49% in the most recent reporting period. These shifts are common as case mixes and evidentiary standards evolve within the Social Security Administration framework. The latest period reflects a departure from the lifetime average, which may be influenced by changes in the complexity of cases assigned to the bench.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Gray'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 Gray? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Chattanooga hearing office
The Chattanooga Hearing Office serves a broad population across Tennessee, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an active docket and adheres to federal standards. You can expect a formal process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can see the Chattanooga 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 your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Chattanooga office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 ALJs range from 40% to 75%. This variance highlights why focusing on your own medical documentation is more important than the specific judge assigned. You can find more information on the Chattanooga Hearing Office page.
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.