Approval rates
Judge Scruton's approval rate is calculated from a docket of 24,912 lifetime decisions. In the latest reporting period, his 69% approval rate stands above the Roanoke office average of 59% and the national average of 58%. These figures illustrate how his decision-making compares to broader regional and federal trends.
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 Scruton'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 a 10-year tenure, Judge Scruton has maintained a consistent approach to disability adjudication. His yearly approval rates have fluctuated between 58% and 72%, with a 70% approval rate recorded in 2025. This stability suggests a predictable approach to evaluating medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Scruton'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 Scruton? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Roanoke hearing office
The Roanoke Hearing Office serves claimants throughout Virginia and the surrounding region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an approval rate that reflects the diverse nature of the cases heard in this jurisdiction. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical and vocational evidence presented in your file.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. Within the Roanoke Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 45% to 67%. Because each judge brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, understanding the office-wide environment is helpful for your preparation.
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.