Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at both the long-term record and recent activity. Since 2016, Theodore Kim has maintained a 41% approval rate across 3,461 decisions. In the latest reporting period, his 31% approval rate sits 2 points below the NHC Falls Church office average of 33%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases are processed at this office.
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 Kim'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 trend for Theodore Kim has fluctuated since 2016. After reaching 52% in 2024, the approval rate moved to 38% in 2025 and 32% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. This recent decline reflects a shift in outcomes compared to the historical average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Kim'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
Theodore Kim's most recent office on record is the NHC Falls Church, which serves claimants in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas. This office maintains a bench of 33 judges with varying approval patterns. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 33%, providing a local benchmark for case outcomes.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC Falls Church
The SSA uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. At the NHC Falls Church office, there are 33 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 14 of whom decided cases in the latest file. Approval rates among this bench range from 29% to 85% on their records since 2016.
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
Theodore Kim's 41% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 29% to 85% range observed among the 33 judges at this office. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the data shows a fluctuating trend. After reaching 52% in 2024, the approval rate was 38% in 2025 and 32% in the partial 2026 fiscal year. An attorney can help you understand how these recent patterns might relate to the evidence in your specific claim.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The SSA assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control the assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of any judge at the NHC Falls Church office.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your evidence to build the strongest possible case.
