Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While Carol G. Moore has a 42% approval rate across all decisions on record since 2016, her latest-period performance shows a 47% approval rate. This latest figure sits 5 percentage points above the Charlottesville office average of 42%, though it remains 11 points below the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline, but aggregate 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 Moore'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 January 2016, Carol G. Moore has issued 1,986 decisions. The yearly trend shows fluctuation, with approval rates moving from 45% in 2016 to a low of 31% in 2021 before trending to 47% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. This recent activity reflects a shift from the mid-term trend, suggesting a change in the volume or nature of cases heard. The latest period reflects a continuation of this recent pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Moore'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 Charlottesville hearing office
The Charlottesville hearing office serves you and other claimants across Virginia and the surrounding region. As of July 2026, it is the most recent office on record for Carol G. Moore. The office maintains a bench of 13 judges who handle a diverse range of disability claims. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charlottesville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charlottesville hearing office. Approval rates among this bench vary significantly, ranging from 20% to 82% since 2016. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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
Carol G. Moore has an approval rate of 42% since 2016. Among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is the Charlottesville hearing office, approval rates range from 20% to 82%. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to meet the specific standards of this bench.
Yes, the rate has fluctuated over the years. After reaching a low of 31% in 2021, the approval rate has trended to 47% in the most recent fiscal year-to-date period. An attorney can help you evaluate how these trends might relate to your specific case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency across hearing offices. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to be prepared for any ALJ by working with an experienced attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and often a vocational expert or medical expert will participate. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and evidence requirements of your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Carol G. Moore has a 42% approval rate since 2016, your case outcome depends primarily on the strength of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you build a case that clearly demonstrates your disability.
