Approval rates
The data below compares Randi E. Lappin's performance against the broader bench at the Chattanooga hearing office. By looking at the 3,151 decisions on record since 2016, you can see how this judge's approval rate sits within the local range of 42% to 82%. Latest-period figures also show how the judge compares to the office, state, and national averages.
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 Lappin'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, Randi E. Lappin has maintained a consistent volume of cases. The latest-period approval rate reached 70%, which is 2 percentage points above the office average. This recent performance reflects a shift from the rates observed in the years since 2016.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Lappin'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 Chattanooga hearing office
The Chattanooga hearing office serves you and other claimants across Tennessee and the surrounding region. It is home to a bench of 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 68%. You can expect a standard administrative hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Chattanooga
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 7 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for these judges vary significantly, ranging from 42% to 82% 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
Randi E. Lappin has an approval rate of 60% on record since 2016. This sits within the range of 42% to 82% observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is the Chattanooga hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Randi E. Lappin has shown a trend of change over the years, with a 70% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This is an increase from the 60% average observed across the 3,151 decisions on record since 2016. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy based on these trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, workload-based algorithm to assign cases to judges at the Chattanooga hearing office. Because you cannot control the assignment, working with an attorney to prepare a strong case for any judge is recommended.
An approval rate is a probability based on past decisions, not a guarantee of how Randi E. Lappin will rule on your specific claim. While the 60% rate since 2016 provides context, the outcome of your hearing depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is ready for your hearing.
