Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes. While your judge's 54% approval rate on record since 2016 provides a long-term view, his latest-period approval rate of 54% can be compared directly to the Lexington office's latest-period rate of 50%. These figures are derived from thousands of decisions, providing a look at how this bench operates.
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 Sheppard'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 January 2016, Christopher C. Sheppard has issued 3,803 decisions on record. His yearly approval trend shows fluctuation, starting at 41% in 2016 and reaching 59% in 2025, before recording 54% in the partial 2026 period. The latest-period approval rate of 54% remains consistent with his long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Sheppard'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 Lexington hearing office
The Lexington hearing office is the most recent office on record for Christopher C. Sheppard as of July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 18 judges who manage disability claims. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 50%, which provides a baseline for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 18 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. Approval rates among this group vary, ranging from 21% to 79% 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
Christopher C. Sheppard's latest-period approval rate of 54% is 4 percentage points higher than the Lexington office's latest-period rate of 50%. Because case assignment is random, an attorney can help you understand how to present your evidence effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Yes, the approval rate for Christopher C. Sheppard has fluctuated over time, ranging from a low of 41% in 2016 to a high of 60% in 2023. These variations often reflect changes in the types of cases or the quality of medical evidence presented. A qualified attorney can help you prepare a case that meets the specific evidentiary standards required for approval.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random, automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. Since you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence with the help of an attorney is the best way to prepare.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You, your attorney, and potentially a vocational or medical expert will be present to answer questions about your ability to work. An attorney can help you prepare for this process by ensuring your testimony is clear and your medical records are complete.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Christopher C. Sheppard has a 54% approval rate on record since 2016, every case is decided based on its own unique medical and vocational facts. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare the necessary documentation to support your claim.
