Approval rates
The approval rate for Paul Greenberg reflects his decisions from 2016 through 2019. When evaluating this figure, it is useful to compare it against the broader bench at the NHC Falls Church, where judges range from 29% to 85% in their approval rates on record since 2016. With 1,188 decisions on record, the data provides a stable view of past activity.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Greenberg. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Greenberg'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
The approval rate for Paul Greenberg showed variation between 2016 and 2019. After an initial 46% approval rate in 2016, the figures shifted to 41% in 2017 before rising to 50% in 2018 and settling at 48% in 2019. This pattern demonstrates that your judge's decision-making has fluctuated over the years on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Greenberg'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 Falls Church hearing office
The NHC Falls Church serves claimants in the District of Columbia region. This office maintains a bench of 33 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. You can expect a formal hearing process focused on medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Falls Church
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the NHC Falls Church, there are 33 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 29% to 85%.
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
Paul Greenberg has an approval rate of 46% on record since 2016. This sits within the broader range of 29% to 85% observed among the 33 judges whose most recent office on record is the NHC Falls Church. An attorney can help you understand how to present your case effectively regardless of which judge is assigned.
Yes, the approval rate for Paul Greenberg has fluctuated over the years on record. It moved from 46% in 2016 to 41% in 2017, followed by an increase to 50% in 2018 and 48% in 2019. A qualified attorney can help you analyze how these patterns might relate to your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any hearing outcome.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Paul Greenberg's 46% rate since 2016 is one data point among many, including your medical records and testimony. An attorney can help you build a strong case that addresses the specific evidence required for approval.
