Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same time periods. While Thuy-Anh T. Nguyen has a 37% approval rate on record since 2016, recent performance shows a 41% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period figure sits 11 percentage points below the Cincinnati office average of 52%. With 3,368 decisions on record since 2016, the data provides a view of past patterns.
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 Nguyen'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 approval rate for Thuy-Anh T. Nguyen has fluctuated across the 3,368 decisions on record since 2016. After seeing a low of 30% in 2019, the rate reached 43% in 2025 and 41% in 2026. The latest period reflects a continuation of this pattern, showing a divergence from the long-term average on record.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Nguyen'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 Cincinnati hearing office
Thuy-Anh T. Nguyen's most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, which serves claimants across Ohio and the surrounding region. This office is home to 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 52%, you can expect a review of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, with 5 of them having decided cases in SSA's latest file through July 2026. Approval rates for this bench range from 31% to 77% 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
Thuy-Anh T. Nguyen has an approval rate of 37% on record since 2016. Among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, approval rates range from 31% to 77%. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate for Thuy-Anh T. Nguyen has varied over time, starting at 41% in 2016 and reaching 41% in the latest partial 2026 data. These fluctuations are common and may reflect changes in the types of cases heard. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths regardless of these trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, making the assignment process essentially random. An attorney can help you prepare for the hearing regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be asked questions about your work history and daily limitations by the judge or a vocational expert. An attorney can help you prepare for these questions and ensure your evidence is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of how they will rule on your specific case. Your outcome depends heavily on the medical evidence and testimony provided at your hearing. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case to present to the judge.
