Approval rates
When reviewing the performance of Robert Martin, it is helpful to compare his lifetime approval rate of 48% against the broader context of the Nashville Hearing Office and national standards. During the latest reporting period, his approval rate was 45%, which is 12 percentage points lower than the office average and 10 percentage points below the national average of 58%. These figures are derived from a significant docket of 21,828 lifetime decisions, providing a stable statistical baseline.
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 Martin'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 his 10-year tenure, Judge Martin has navigated a fluctuating caseload, with approval rates shifting from a high of 64% in 2016 to a low of 32% in 2023. Recent data shows a stabilization, with the approval rate at 47% in 2025. This trend suggests that while there have been variations in case outcomes over time, the current decision-making pattern has returned to levels consistent with his career-long average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Martin'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 Martin? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Nashville hearing office
The Nashville Hearing Office serves a large population across Tennessee, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an environment where caseloads are distributed to ensure timely processing. You should be prepared for a formal administrative process focused on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can see the Nashville Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Nashville Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 48% to 73%. Because each judge operates with their own judicial philosophy, it is common to see variance across the office.
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.