Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. The 85% approval rate for Louis J. Volz covers all decisions on record since 2026. In the most recent reporting period, the judge's 85% approval rate stands against an office-wide rate of 49%, a state rate of 55%, and a national rate of 58%. These figures reflect recent activity rather than long-term trends.
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 Volz'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 pattern for Louis J. Volz is based on 60 decisions on record since 2026. During the 2026 fiscal year to date, the judge maintained an 85% approval rate. This data reflects a consistent pattern of decisions within the current reporting window.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Volz'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
Louis J. Volz's most recent office on record is the New Orleans Hearing Office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office serves you and other claimants across the region, maintaining a bench of 17 judges whose most recent records are tied to this location. The office-wide approval rate in the latest period was 49%, providing a baseline for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is New Orleans
The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the New Orleans Hearing Office. Approval rates across this bench vary, ranging from 38% to 85% on their since-2016 records. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
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
In the latest reporting period, Louis J. Volz had an 85% approval rate, which is 36 percentage points higher than the 49% office-wide average. While this data provides context, every case is unique and an attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of your hearing.
The approval rate for Louis J. Volz has remained at 85% across the 60 decisions on record since 2026. This indicates a steady pattern of decisions during the current data window. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific medical evidence.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure efficiency. An attorney can help you prepare your case regardless of which judge is ultimately assigned to your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and testimony. You will likely answer questions about your work history and functional limitations. Working with an attorney can help you organize your evidence and prepare for the questions you may face.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Louis J. Volz has an 85% approval rate on record since 2026, the outcome of your case depends primarily on the strength of your medical documentation. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible.
