Approval rates
The approval rate for Judge Ramsey is based on a docket of 4,596 lifetime decisions. Her approval rate sits 33 points below the Metairie office average of 57% and 34 points below the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how cases have been decided in this courtroom. 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 Ramsey'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 4-year tenure, Judge Ramsey has maintained a consistent pattern of decision-making. Her approval rate was 29% in 2017, 26% in 2018, and 20% in 2019. This trend reflects a sustained approach to case evaluation. The latest data indicates a continuation of this established pattern, emphasizing the importance of high-quality medical evidence in your case.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Ramsey'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 Ramsey? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Metairie hearing office
The Metairie Hearing Office serves a large population of claimants across Louisiana, managing a high volume of disability hearings. With 6 judges on the bench, the office maintains an average approval rate of 57%. You can expect a formal environment where the focus remains on medical documentation and vocational testimony. You can visit the Metairie Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Across the Metairie bench, lifetime approval rates for the office's 6 judges range from 24% to 62%. This variance highlights that while the judge matters, the core requirements for disability remain consistent. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
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.