Approval rates
Comparing performance requires looking at consistent data windows. While H. Munday has a 38% approval rate on record since 2016, this figure sits within a broader office range of 20% to 82% among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Charlottesville. In the latest reporting period, the 30% approval rate reflects a 12-point difference from the office-wide 42% rate. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the office's recent activity.
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 Munday'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, H. Munday has issued 3,645 decisions. The yearly trend shows a relatively steady approval rate for much of the record, typically hovering near the 38% average. While the 2026 fiscal year-to-date figure of 31% shows a recent shift, this partial data represents a snapshot rather than a long-term change. The latest period reflects a departure from the historical average, which may be influenced by fluctuations in case complexity or the specific evidence presented in recent hearings.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Munday'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 claimants across Virginia and the surrounding region. With 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location, the office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 42%. You can expect a formal administrative process where the quality of medical evidence is the primary factor in a favorable outcome.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charlottesville
The Social Security Administration utilizes 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 Charlottesville, and 4 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 20% to 82% 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
H. Munday's 38% approval rate since 2016 falls within the 20% to 82% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Charlottesville. Because cases are assigned randomly, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific evidentiary standards H. Munday has applied in past hearings.
The approval rate for H. Munday has remained relatively steady over the years, though it has seen fluctuations such as the 31% rate recorded in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your claim.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, ensuring that assignments remain random and impartial. An attorney can help you prepare a robust case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony about your limitations. Having an attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and prepare your testimony to clearly demonstrate how your condition prevents you from working.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While H. Munday's 38% rate provides context, your outcome depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony in your file. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear.
