Approval rates
The data shows how Judge Holappa compares to the broader Denver bench, where lifetime approval rates range from 31% to 75%. In the most recent reporting period, his approval rate was 59%, compared to the office-wide rate of 61%. These figures are based on a significant volume of cases, providing a view of his decision-making history that remains consistent with broader office trends.
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 Holappa'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 2017, Judge Holappa has maintained a consistent pattern of approvals across his 3,111 lifetime decisions. While his annual approval rate has fluctuated, the trend has remained steady, with his most recent performance showing a rate of 59%. This latest period reflects a continuation of his established approach to evaluating your disability claim.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Holappa'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 Denver hearing office
The Denver hearing office serves you throughout Colorado, operating within a region that handles a high volume of disability appeals. With 22 judges on record since 2016, the office maintains an active bench to manage its caseload. You can expect a formal hearing process where the quality of your evidence is the primary driver of the outcome. You can view the Denver Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to Judge Holappa is essentially random. There are 22 judges on record at the Denver hearing office since 2016, 9 of whom are reported in the latest SSA data. Approval rates across this bench vary widely, reflecting the diverse nature of disability adjudication.
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
Judge Holappa's lifetime approval rate of 54% sits within the 31% to 75% range observed across the Denver bench. While his latest-period rate of 59% is slightly below the office-wide 61%, these differences are common in a large hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to best suit this judge's preferences.
His approval rate has shown a steady trend since 2017, with 3,111 lifetime decisions on record. While the rate has moved between years, such as his 59% approval in 2026, it remains within a consistent range for his career. An attorney can help you evaluate how your specific medical conditions align with his historical decision patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random assignment algorithm to ensure workload balance across the Denver office. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is ultimately assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history, daily limitations, and the severity of your impairments. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical records are organized to meet the judge's expectations.