Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Greg Holsclaw has a 49% approval rate on record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 38%. This latest figure sits 12 points below the Lexington office average of 50%, 13 points below the Kentucky state average of 51%, and 20 points below the national average of 58%. These figures are based on 4,294 decisions on record since 2016.
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 Holsclaw'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 2016, Greg Holsclaw has issued 4,294 decisions. The yearly approval trend shows a period of relative stability followed by a recent decline. While approval rates fluctuated between 45% and 55% for several years, the most recent data indicates a shift to 38% for the current partial fiscal year. This recent divergence from the long-term average reflects the most recent reporting period rather than a permanent shift in judicial philosophy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Holsclaw'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 Lexington hearing office
The Lexington hearing office serves you and other claimants across Kentucky and the surrounding region. With 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, the office manages a diverse caseload. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 50%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 10 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 21% to 79% on their since-2016 records.
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
Greg Holsclaw's 49% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 21% to 79% range observed among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Lexington hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate has shown a downward trend in the latest reporting period, reaching 38% compared to the 49% average maintained across 4,294 decisions since 2016. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy in light of these patterns.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency, making your assignment process random.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. An attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions the judge may ask.
Approval rates are statistical summaries of past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you document it.
