Approval rates
Judge LaRiccia maintains a lifetime approval rate of 45% based on 22,114 lifetime decisions. In the most recent reporting period, the approval rate was 44%, which is 13 percentage points lower than the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical look at past performance, though they do not predict the outcome of your 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 LaRiccia'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 10-year tenure, Judge LaRiccia has demonstrated a varied decision pattern. While the approval rate dipped to 34% in 2021, recent years have shown a return to higher levels, reaching 55% in 2024 before settling at 46% in 2025. This fluctuation suggests that the judge's approach remains responsive to the specific evidence and case mix presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge LaRiccia'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 LaRiccia? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Denver hearing office
The Denver Hearing Office serves you and other residents throughout Colorado and the surrounding region. It is staffed by a team of 6 administrative law judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 62%, reflecting the local standards for evidence and medical documentation.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot choose your judge. Within the Denver Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 45% to 62%. While these differences exist, the fundamental requirements for proving your disability remain consistent.
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.