Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at the same timeframes to ensure accuracy. While your judge's overall record since 2016 shows a 48% approval rate, recent data indicates a shift in decision patterns. When evaluating these figures, consider the judge's performance against the 41% to 90% range of peers at the Jackson MS OHO. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for individual hearings.
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 Stroud'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 Larry J. Stroud has shown an upward trend since 2016. After fluctuating between 37% and 45% for several years, the rate began a consistent climb in 2022, reaching 70% in the most recent reporting period. This latest performance represents a divergence from the 48% average observed over the entire 4,028-decision record. This recent uptick may reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Stroud'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 Jackson Ms OHO hearing office
The Jackson MS OHO is the most recent office on record for Larry J. Stroud, with the last recorded decision there in July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 8 judges. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 55%, providing a baseline for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Jackson Ms OHO
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and 5 of them decided cases here in SSA's latest file. Approval rates among this group vary widely, ranging from 41% to 90%.
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
Larry J. Stroud has an approval rate of 48% across 4,028 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 41% to 90% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is the Jackson MS OHO. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence to this specific judge.
Yes, the approval rate for Larry J. Stroud has trended upward significantly in recent years. While the rate was 39% in 2016, it reached 70% in the most recent reporting period. An attorney can help you determine how these trends might impact your specific case strategy.
No, you cannot request a specific judge for your SSDI hearing. The Social Security Administration uses a random workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, working with an attorney is the best way to prepare for any outcome.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your work history and how your impairments prevent you from performing substantial gainful activity. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records before the hearing date.
