Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to understand how a judge performs relative to their peers. While the 45% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, recent performance is also critical. In the latest reporting period, the judge maintained a 53% approval rate, which is +1 points above the San Antonio office average of 52%.
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 McPhail'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, your approval rate for Robert M. McPhail has shown significant variation. After a period of lower approval rates around 2019, the trend shifted upward, reaching a peak of 64% in 2025. The most recent data from 2026 shows a 53% approval rate, which indicates a slight cooling from the previous year's high. This pattern suggests that the judge's decision-making process is responsive to changing evidentiary standards or case complexities over time.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge McPhail'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 San Antonio hearing office
Robert M. McPhail's most recent office on record is the San Antonio hearing office, which serves the surrounding region in Texas. This office hosts a bench of 23 judges who manage a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 52%, the environment is typical of large urban hearing centers where evidence quality is paramount.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Antonio
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 23 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Antonio office, with 17 of them having decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates among this bench vary widely, ranging from 18% to 70% 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
Judge McPhail's latest-period approval rate of 53% is slightly higher than the San Antonio office average of 52%. Because judges at this office have since-2016 approval rates ranging from 18% to 70%, your assigned judge can significantly influence your case outcome. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Robert M. McPhail has fluctuated over the years. Starting at 40% in 2016, the rate saw a low of 29% in 2019 before trending upward to 64% in 2025. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you build a stronger case for your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Since you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any outcome by having a qualified attorney review your evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a guarantee of your specific outcome. While Robert M. McPhail has a 45% approval rate on record since 2016, your individual success depends on the medical evidence and testimony you present. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you step into the hearing room.
