Approval rates
Judge Spangler has maintained a consistent presence on the bench over the last 10 years, presiding over a significant docket of 17,496 lifetime decisions. When comparing the latest reporting period, the judge's approval rate of 47% sits 9 percentage points below the national average of 58%. This data provides a statistical baseline for understanding the hearing environment.
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 Spangler'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, the approval rate for Judge Spangler has shown a gradual shift. While early years saw rates above 50%, recent data indicates a more conservative trend, with the latest period settling at 47%. This pattern reflects a steady approach to evaluating evidence and disability claims.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Spangler'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 Spangler? Free, confidential — see if you qualify for SSDI.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Middlesboro hearing office
The Middlesboro Hearing Office serves a broad region in Kentucky, managing a high volume of disability claims. With an office-wide latest approval rate of 52%, it remains a critical hub for local claimants. You can expect a formal process focused on medical documentation and vocational evidence. You can find more information on the Middlesboro Hearing Office page.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Middlesboro Hearing Office utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning you cannot request a specific judge. Across the office's bench of 6 judges, lifetime approval rates range from 46% to 59%. This variance highlights why understanding the general hearing environment is essential 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.