Approval rates
You will find that Judge Laba maintains a lifetime approval rate of 64%, which is higher than the St. Louis Hearing Office latest average of 54%. When measured against the national average of 58%, this judge's record shows a consistent pattern of allowance. These statistics are derived from 756 lifetime decisions, providing a baseline for understanding the judge's history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Laba'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
Over a 5-year tenure, Judge Laba's approval rate has transitioned from higher initial rates toward a more moderate, steady pattern. Early years saw high approval figures, while the most recent reporting period shows a stabilization near the current lifetime average. This shift is common as a judge's docket matures and the case mix evolves. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern as the judge balances evidence requirements across a diverse range of disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Laba'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.
Hearing with Judge Laba? A free benefit check tells you if you qualify.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the St Louis hearing office
The St. Louis Hearing Office serves a broad population across Missouri, managing a high volume of disability claims. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an average approval rate that reflects the complex nature of the regional caseload. You can expect a formal, evidence-focused environment where thorough documentation is critical to a successful outcome. You can visit the St. Louis 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 the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the St. Louis Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates for the bench range from 41% to 70%. While you cannot choose your judge, understanding the office-wide environment helps you set expectations for the hearing process. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.