Approval rates
When reviewing the performance of Shelette Veal, it is helpful to compare her approval rate on record since 2017 against the broader bench at the Indianapolis Hearing Office. While the office-wide bench shows a range of 43% to 75% for decisions since 2016, Shelette Veal's 66% approval rate provides a specific reference point for her docket. These figures are based on 3,756 decisions on record. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions 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 Veal'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 Shelette Veal has fluctuated since 2017. After an 83% approval rate in 2017, the figures shifted in subsequent years before reaching a 72% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This latest-period performance sits 8 percentage points above the Indianapolis Hearing Office average of 64%. The recent trend reflects a steady pattern, though your case outcome depends on the evidence you present.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Veal'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 Indianapolis hearing office
The Indianapolis Hearing Office serves you and other claimants across Indiana and the surrounding region. As of the most recent data through July 2026, the office maintains an approval rate of 64% for the latest reporting period. With a bench of 20 judges, the office handles a significant volume of disability claims. For more information, see the Indianapolis Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Indianapolis
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Indianapolis Hearing Office, 11 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. These judges demonstrate a wide range of approval rates, from 43% to 75% on their since-2016 records. You should prepare your case thoroughly regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
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
Shelette Veal has an approval rate of 66% on record since 2017. This sits within the 43% to 75% range observed among the 20 judges whose most recent office on record is the Indianapolis Hearing Office. An attorney can help you understand how to prepare your case for this specific bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Shelette Veal has varied over time, starting at 83% in 2017 and reaching 72% in the most recent reporting period. These shifts are common and often reflect changes in case mix or evidence quality. A qualified attorney can help you evaluate your case's strengths regardless of these historical trends.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is vital to prepare your case thoroughly with the help of an attorney who understands the hearing process.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Shelette Veal has a 66% approval rate on record since 2017, the outcome of your case will depend primarily on the medical evidence and testimony you provide. An attorney can help you organize this evidence to give your claim the best chance of success.
