Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at data from the same timeframe. The 34% approval rate for Gary L. Vanderhoof reflects all decisions on record since 2016, which can be measured against the 34% to 80% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Las Vegas hearing office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges have historically approached their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Vanderhoof. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Vanderhoof'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 Gary L. Vanderhoof shows a declining trend across 1,140 decisions on record since 2016. The data indicates an approval rate of 42% in 2016, 31% in 2017, and 15% in 2018. This pattern reflects the judge's activity during the recorded window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Vanderhoof'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 Las Vegas hearing office
Gary L. Vanderhoof's most recent office on record is the Las Vegas hearing office, which serves you in Nevada. This office maintains a bench of 10 judges who have historically managed a high volume of disability claims. You can expect a standard hearing process focused on the medical and vocational evidence supporting your claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Las Vegas
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Las Vegas hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 34% to 80% on their records since 2016. While these figures highlight the variance across the bench, the process for preparing your evidence remains consistent.
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
Gary L. Vanderhoof has an approval rate of 34% based on 1,140 decisions on record since 2016. This places the judge at the lower end of the 34% to 80% range observed among the 10 judges whose most recent office on record is the Las Vegas hearing office. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the data shows a decline in approval rates over the recorded period. The rate moved from 42% in 2016 to 31% in 2017 and 15% in 2018. Understanding these trends is part of building a strong case, and an attorney can help you evaluate how to present your evidence effectively.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot choose your judge, it is important to focus on the strength of your medical evidence with the help of a qualified attorney.
The 34% approval rate on record since 2016 represents a probability cloud from past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. Every case is unique, and your outcome depends primarily on the medical documentation and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before your hearing date.
