Approval rates
Evaluating a judge's history requires looking at the broader context of their career. Judge Pietrangelo has maintained a consistent presence on the bench for 10 years, presiding over a significant volume of cases that provide a clear statistical baseline. When comparing their latest approval rate to the Nashville Hearing Office average of 60% and the national average of 58%, you can see how their decision-making aligns with broader Social Security Administration trends. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Pietrangelo'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 the past decade, your judge's approval patterns have shown notable shifts, moving from a 47% approval rate in 2016 to 65% in 2025. This trajectory reflects a steady evolution in their approach to case evaluation, with the latest period showing a 64% approval rate. Such trends are common as judges refine their interpretation of disability criteria over time. The recent data suggests a period of stability, indicating that the judge's current decision-making process is well-established.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Pietrangelo'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 Pietrangelo? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Nashville hearing office
The Nashville Hearing Office serves a large population across Tennessee, managing a high volume of disability claims with a team of 6 ALJs. The office currently maintains an approval rate of 60%, reflecting the complex nature of the cases reviewed in this region. You can expect a rigorous process focused on the documentation of your impairments and work history. You can see the Nashville 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 Nashville office, approval rates among the bench vary, ranging from 48% to 73% across the 6 ALJs. This variance highlights why it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence rather than the specific judge assigned. You can find more information on the Nashville 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.