Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While you see a 76% lifetime approval rate for Larry E. Johnson, his latest-period performance shows an 84% approval rate, which sits 7 points above the Tucson office's latest-period average of 77%. These figures are derived from a significant volume of cases, providing a reliable statistical baseline for your review.
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 Johnson'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, the approval trend for Larry E. Johnson has shown a gradual upward trajectory. After hovering in the low-to-mid 70s for several years, the rate reached 84% in the most recent reporting period. This shift reflects a pattern of higher approval frequency compared to the earlier years of the record. The latest period shows a continuation of this steady pattern, indicating that the current decision-making approach is consistent with recent trends.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Johnson'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 Tucson hearing office
The Tucson hearing office serves you throughout the region, operating as a key hub for SSDI cases in Arizona. The office bench consists of 5 judges on record, maintaining a latest-period approval rate of 77%. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony. You can visit the Tucson hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. At the Tucson office, there are 5 judges on record since 2016, 3 of whom reported in the latest period. These judges exhibit a wide range of lifetime approval rates, spanning from 50% to 79%. For your preparation, the guidance remains consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
Larry E. Johnson's latest-period approval rate of 84% is 7 points higher than the Tucson office's latest-period average of 77%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific evidentiary standards of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a steady increase in approval rates over the last decade. While his lifetime rate is 76%, his performance in the most recent period reached 84%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the current evidence in your file.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare for a hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of a future outcome. While Larry E. Johnson's 76% lifetime rate provides context, the success of your claim primarily depends on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your documentation is complete.