Approval rates
Comparing Judge Tindale's performance requires looking at consistent data windows. The judge's 44% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 31% to 77% range observed among the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati. In the most recent reporting period, the judge recorded a 46% approval rate, which is 6 points lower than the office-wide rate of 52%. These figures provide statistical context for your 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 Tindale'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 Judge Tindale has shown variation across the 3,449 decisions on record since 2016. After an initial period of fluctuation, the judge's yearly approval rate moved from 36% in 2018 to a peak of 51% in 2025. The most recent data from 2026 shows a rate of 46% (fiscal year to date). This recent figure represents a shift from the previous year, though it remains consistent with the judge's long-term pattern of decision-making.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Tindale'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 Cincinnati hearing office
The most recent office on record for Judge Tindale is the Cincinnati hearing office. This office maintains a bench of 14 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 52%, you can expect a review of your medical evidence and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Cincinnati
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office, and 5 of them decided cases here in the latest file from July 2026. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 31% to 77% 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
Judge Tindale's 44% approval rate on record since 2016 falls within the 31% to 77% range of the 14 judges whose most recent office on record is the Cincinnati hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this judge's bench.
The judge's approval rate has fluctuated over the years, starting at 50% in 2016 and reaching 51% in 2025, with a 46% rate recorded in the partial 2026 fiscal year. Understanding these trends is part of how an attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a random workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where the judge reviews your medical records and may hear testimony from you and vocational experts. Because the process is complex, an attorney can help you organize your evidence to meet the specific standards of the hearing office.
The approval rate is a reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence, which is why an attorney can help you ensure your file is complete.
