Approval rates
This table displays the approval rate for Gregory O. Varo based on 1,313 decisions recorded between 2016 and 2019.
Judge Varo is not in SSA's latest disposition file, so there is no 12-month figure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 27, 2019. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Judge Varo isn't in SSA's latest disposition file, so the judge comparison tool, which compares active judges over the same 12 months, leaves them out.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Varo'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
Between 2016 and 2019, Gregory O. Varo issued 1,313 decisions. The approval rate was 77% in 2016, 83% in 2017, 80% in 2018, and 75% in 2019.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Varo'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 Lexington hearing office
The Lexington hearing office is the most recent office on record for 18 judges, with the last decision recorded in September 2019.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Lexington
The 10 judges who decided cases at the Lexington hearing office in SSA's latest file range from 37% to 54% 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
Gregory O. Varo's 79% approval rate on record since 2016 is higher than the range of 37% to 54% seen among the 10 judges who decided cases at the Lexington office in SSA's latest file. An attorney can help you understand how these differences might impact your case preparation.
Gregory O. Varo's approval rate was 77% in 2016, 83% in 2017, 80% in 2018, and 75% in 2019. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews the evidence in your file and hears testimony. An attorney can help you organize your medical records and prepare your testimony to ensure your case is presented clearly.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific claim. The strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the primary factors in a successful outcome, and an attorney can help you maximize those elements.
