Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Dennis LeBlanc has a 57% approval rate across his entire record since 2016, his latest-period approval rate is 70%, which sits 7 percentage points higher than the Tulsa OHO office average of 63%. These figures are derived from 3,808 total decisions on record. These 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 LeBlanc'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, Dennis LeBlanc has maintained a varied approval pattern across 3,808 decisions. After a period of fluctuation between 2018 and 2021, the approval rate has shown an upward trend in recent years, reaching 70% in the latest reporting period. This recent performance represents a shift from the historical average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge LeBlanc'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 Tulsa OHO hearing office
The Tulsa OHO is the most recent office on record for Dennis LeBlanc, with his last recorded decision there in July 2026. With 15 judges on the bench, the office maintains an overall latest-period approval rate of 63%. You can see the Tulsa OHO Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tulsa OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tulsa OHO, and 6 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this bench range from 37% to 81% 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
Dennis LeBlanc's latest-period approval rate of 70% is 7 percentage points higher than the 63% average for the Tulsa OHO. Because case assignment is random, you cannot choose your judge, but an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the data shows a trend of fluctuation followed by a recent increase. While his approval rate on record since 2016 is 57%, his latest-period rate is 70%. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to the evidence needed for your specific claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot control your judge assignment, working with an attorney to build a strong case is the best way to prepare for your hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. With 3,808 decisions on record since 2016, Dennis LeBlanc has a clear history, but the outcome of your hearing will depend primarily on the medical and vocational evidence you provide. An attorney can help you prepare.
