Approval rates
The 50% approval rate for Richard L. Vogel covers all decisions on record since 2016. This can be measured against the 17% to 87% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding how different judges approach their dockets.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Vogel. 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 Vogel'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 Richard L. Vogel showed variation across the 514 decisions on record since 2016. The data indicates an approval rate of 52% in 2016, 56% in 2017, and 42% in 2018. This trend reflects a shift in outcomes over the three-year window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Vogel'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 Charleston SC hearing office
Richard L. Vogel's most recent office on record is the Charleston SC hearing office. This office features a bench of 15 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. You can expect a formal administrative process where evidence quality is the primary factor in your decision.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC, and their approval rates since 2016 range from 17% to 87%. Because each judge has a unique approach to evidence, understanding the bench as a whole is helpful.
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
Richard L. Vogel has an approval rate of 50% based on 514 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 17% to 87% range of approval rates for the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Charleston SC. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The data shows an approval rate of 52% in 2016, 56% in 2017, and 42% in 2018. These figures represent the judge's activity over that specific period. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked questions about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. A judge's history is only one factor, as the strength of your medical evidence and your testimony are the most critical elements of a successful claim. An attorney can help you build the strongest possible case for your hearing.
