Approval rates
The 71% approval rate for Louis J. Volz III reflects all decisions on record since 2016. This figure can be measured against the 38% to 85% range of the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is also New Orleans. These figures provide a statistical baseline derived from thousands of cases, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Volz III. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 26, 2025. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Volz III'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 Louis J. Volz III has shown an upward trend since 2016. After starting at 61% in 2016, the rate reached 84% in 2024 and was 82% in 2025. With 3,834 total decisions on record, this pattern reflects a consistent shift in outcomes over the last several years.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Volz III'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 New Orleans hearing office
The New Orleans hearing office is the most recent office on record for 17 judges. Since 2016, these judges have seen a wide variance in approval outcomes. You can see the New Orleans hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New Orleans
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans hearing office, with individual approval rates ranging from 38% to 85% since 2016. Understanding the local bench provides context for the range of outcomes at this office.
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
Louis J. Volz III has a 71% approval rate on record since 2016. This sits within the 38% to 85% range of approval rates for the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is New Orleans. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate for Louis J. Volz III has trended upward over the period from 2016 to 2025. While the rate was 61% in 2016, it reached 84% by 2024. A qualified 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 uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. Regardless of your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be asked about your daily limitations and why your condition prevents you from working. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets SSA criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your claim.
