Approval rates
Judge Reeves currently holds a 53% approval rate, which is 6 points lower than the Rio Grande Valley office average of 59%. When compared to the national average of 58%, his rate remains slightly lower. These figures are based on a docket of 5,981 lifetime decisions, providing a stable view of his decision-making history. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual 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 Reeves'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 taking the bench in 2022, Judge Reeves has maintained a steady approval pattern. His annual approval rates have remained consistent, moving from 52% in 2023 to 54% in 2025. This stability suggests a predictable approach to evaluating your disability claim. The latest period shows a 53% approval rate, which aligns closely with his long-term career average. This consistency indicates that his approach to evidence and testimony has remained stable throughout his tenure.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Reeves'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 Reeves? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Rio Grande Valley TX hearing office
The Rio Grande Valley TX hearing office serves a large population in South Texas, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 3 judges, the office maintains an overall approval rate that reflects the regional caseload. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on your medical evidence and vocational testimony. See the Rio Grande Valley TX 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 your assignment to Judge Reeves is essentially random. Across the Rio Grande Valley office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 41% to 67%. This variance highlights why you should focus on the merits of your specific claim rather than the judge's identity. For preparation purposes, the guidance remains 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.