Approval rates
Comparing a judge's performance requires looking at both their career-long history and recent trends. Judge Nunez maintains a lifetime approval rate of 47% across 7,207 lifetime decisions, which aligns with the current Richmond office average. While this sits below the national average of 58%, these figures represent a probability cloud from past decisions rather than a prediction for your specific 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 Nunez'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
Over her 9-year tenure, Judge Nunez has seen fluctuations in her approval patterns. While her rate remained relatively steady during her early years on the bench, the data shows a period of variance in recent years. These changes often reflect shifts in the complexity of cases or the quality of medical evidence presented. The latest period reflects a departure from her long-term average, though her overall career pattern remains consistent with the broader office environment.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Nunez'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.
Hearing with Judge Nunez? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Richmond hearing office
The Richmond Hearing Office serves a broad population across Virginia, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an average approval rate of 47%. You can expect a formal process focused on the documentation of your impairments and work history. You can see the Richmond Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the Richmond office, lifetime approval rates among the bench vary significantly, ranging from 18% to 57%. Because case assignment is outside of your control, your focus should remain on the strength of your medical evidence. You can find more information on the Richmond Hearing Office page.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.