Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes to ensure accuracy. While Brian M. Steger has an approval rate of 45% on his record since 2017, his latest-period performance shows a 49% approval rate, which is 4 points higher than the office average for the same period. These figures are derived from a significant volume of 2,968 decisions. 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 Steger'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 December 2017, the approval pattern for Brian M. Steger has shown yearly fluctuations, moving from 52% in 2018 to 44% in 2025. The most recent fiscal year-to-date data shows a 46% approval rate, indicating the trend has remained relatively steady over the long term. This pattern reflects a consistent approach to evaluating evidence across 2,968 total decisions. The latest period reflects a continuation of this steady pattern.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Steger'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 NHC St Louis hearing office
The NHC St Louis office serves you and other claimants across Missouri and the surrounding region. This office features a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, where the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 45%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on medical and vocational evidence. You can see the NHC St Louis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is NHC St Louis
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Within the NHC St Louis office, there are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, with approval rates ranging from 40% to 79%. Six of these judges decided cases in the latest SSA file. For preparation purposes, the guidance is the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates in SSA's latest period (October 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Steger's 49%. All five last decided cases in Missouri.
- 49% Approval rate, latest period Mattie Harvin-Woode
- 48% Approval rate, latest period Lori Imsland
- 50% Approval rate, latest period Chandreka Allen
- 48% Approval rate, latest period Trina Mengesha-Brown
- 51% Approval rate, latest period John R. Price
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Steger and the three closest side by side →
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
Brian M. Steger's latest-period approval rate of 49% is 4 points higher than the office average of 45%. Because cases are assigned randomly, your specific hearing outcome depends more on the evidence in your file than on the judge's historical average. An attorney can help you organize your medical records to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
Brian M. Steger's approval rate has fluctuated over time, starting at 52% in 2018 and reaching 46% in the most recent partial year of 2026. These variations are common and often reflect changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence presented. If you are concerned about your hearing, a free case review can help you understand your options. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a random, automated workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges. Since you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on building a comprehensive case that meets the SSA's requirements. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where the judge reviews your medical evidence and may hear testimony from you and vocational or medical experts. The judge's goal is to determine if you meet the strict disability criteria set by the SSA. Having an attorney present can help you navigate the questioning and ensure all relevant evidence is properly submitted. An attorney can help you prepare your case.
