Approval rates
When reviewing approval rates, it is helpful to compare a judge's record against the broader bench at their hearing office. The 68% approval rate for Vivian W. Mittleman is based on 154 decisions on record since 2016. This provides a statistical baseline, though every case is unique. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting your individual outcome.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Mittleman. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 30, 2016. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Mittleman'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
The data for Vivian W. Mittleman covers 154 decisions on record since 2016. During this period, the approval rate was 68%. This pattern reflects the judge's historical decision-making consistency within the Baltimore office.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Mittleman'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 Baltimore hearing office
Vivian W. Mittleman's most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office, with decisions there through September 2016. This office serves claimants across the region, and its bench includes 24 judges whose most recent record is at this location. You can find more information on the Baltimore hearing office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records. You should prepare for your hearing with the expectation that you could be assigned to any judge at the office.
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
Vivian W. Mittleman has an approval rate of 68% based on 154 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 32% to 79% range observed among the 24 judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
The approval rate for Vivian W. Mittleman was 68% across the 154 decisions on record since 2016. Because this rate is based on a consistent set of data, it provides a stable view of past outcomes. If you are concerned about your hearing, an attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases to judges using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot choose your judge, which is why it is important to be prepared for any ALJ. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of who is assigned to your hearing.
An approval rate is a summary of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Vivian W. Mittleman approved 68% of cases on record since 2016, your outcome depends on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.
