Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Judge Hoover has a 36% approval rate across all decisions on record since 2016, the bench at the Las Vegas office shows a range of 34% to 80% for that same period. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 45% approval rate sits 13 points below the office's 58% rate. These figures reflect historical patterns rather than future outcomes.
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 Hoover'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, your judge's approval rate has fluctuated. After a period of relative stability, the most recent data shows a 45% approval rate, which is higher than the 36% average on record since 2016. With 4,056 total decisions on record, the pattern provides a view of how the judge has approached cases over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Hoover'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 Las Vegas hearing office
The Las Vegas office serves you and other claimants across Nevada. The office's bench consists of 10 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, and the office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 58%. You can expect a formal hearing process where your evidence and testimony are weighed against SSA criteria.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Las Vegas
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Las Vegas. Approval rates among this group vary significantly, ranging from 34% to 80% 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
Judge Hoover has a 36% approval rate on record since 2016. Among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is Las Vegas, approval rates range from 34% to 80%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Judge Hoover has varied over time, starting at 29% in 2016 and reaching 45% in the partial 2026 data. These fluctuations are common and often depend on the specific evidence presented in each case. An attorney can help you understand how to best present your medical evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Las Vegas office. Because you cannot control your assignment, it is important to be prepared for any judge. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked questions about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and ensure your medical evidence is clearly organized.
Approval rates are statistical summaries of past decisions and do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. A 36% approval rate since 2016 simply reflects the judge's historical pattern. Your case's success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you build your case.
