Approval rates
The table below displays the judge's approval rate on record since 2016 alongside the range for other judges at the same office. With 1,052 decisions on record, this data provides a view of historical trends.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Rising. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 25, 2020. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Rising'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 Donald A. Rising has shown variation across the 1,052 decisions on record since 2016. After starting at 50% in 2016, the rate reached 52% in 2017, 70% in 2018, 63% in 2019, and 61% in 2020.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Rising'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 Middlesboro hearing office
Donald A. Rising's most recent SSA record (September 2020) is at the Middlesboro hearing office in Kentucky. This office is associated with 5 judges whose most recent office on record is this one.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Middlesboro
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases. There are 5 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 44% to 59% 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
Donald A. Rising's 59% approval rate on record since 2016 is at the top of the range for the 5 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, who range from 44% to 59%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Donald A. Rising fluctuated from 50% in 2016 to a peak of 70% in 2018, before reaching 61% in 2020. Understanding these historical patterns is part of how an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of which judge is assigned.
An approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Your case outcome depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence. An attorney can help you ensure your evidence is as strong as possible.
