Approval rates
Comparing Sean Teehan's record to the broader Boston bench provides context for your upcoming hearing. While his lifetime approval rate sits at 37%, the office-wide lifetime range for all judges on record spans from 37% to 75%. In the latest reporting period, his approval rate was 36%, compared to the office-wide latest-period rate of 54%. 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 Teehan'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
Sean Teehan has issued 2,924 decisions since 2016. His approval rate has remained relatively steady over the years, showing a consistent pattern in his approach to disability claims. While the latest-period approval rate of 36% is slightly lower than his lifetime average, it remains within the established range of his historical record. This consistency suggests a stable decision-making pattern that has persisted throughout the available data window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Teehan'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 Boston hearing office
The Boston hearing office serves you throughout Massachusetts and the surrounding region. It maintains a bench of 14 judges on record, with an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 54%. You can expect a formal administrative process focused on the medical evidence supporting your disability claim. You can see the Boston Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning your assignment to a specific judge is essentially random. There are 14 judges on record at this office since 2016, 6 of whom reported in the SSA's latest period. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 37% to 75% on a lifetime basis.
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
Sean Teehan's lifetime approval rate of 37% sits at the lower end of the 37% to 75% range seen across the Boston office's bench. Because your case is unique, an attorney can help you build a strategy that addresses the specific evidentiary requirements of this judge.
Sean Teehan's approval rate has held roughly steady since 2016, with his latest-period rate of 36% aligning closely with his 37% lifetime average. Understanding these trends is part of preparing a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how your evidence fits this pattern.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of SSDI hearing.
SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and testimony to determine eligibility. Having legal representation can ensure your evidence is presented clearly, which is critical for any judge's review. An attorney can help you prepare for this process.
A judge's approval rate is a reflection of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, and an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.