Approval rates
The approval rates for Roger A. Nelson are based on 3,180 decisions on record since January 2016. In the latest reporting period, his approval rate of 85% sits 10 points above the Mobile office average of 75%, 23 points above the Alabama state average of 62%, and 27 points above the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding past outcomes.
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 Nelson'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, the approval rate for Roger A. Nelson has shown an upward trend. After fluctuating between 2016 and 2020, the approval rate climbed steadily, reaching 85% in the most recent reporting period. This latest figure reflects a continuation of the higher approval rates observed since 2022.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Nelson'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 Mobile hearing office
The Mobile hearing office serves you and other claimants across Alabama and the surrounding region. As of the most recent data, 18 judges have their most recent office on record at this location. The office maintains a latest-period approval rate of 75%.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mobile
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile office, 10 of whom decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 28% to 81% 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
Roger A. Nelson has an approval rate of 75% on record since 2016, which falls within the 28% to 81% range seen among the 18 judges whose most recent office on record is the Mobile office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Roger A. Nelson has trended upward. While the rate was 75% in 2016, it reached 85% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
The 75% approval rate on record since 2016 represents a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and testimony. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is presented effectively.
