Approval rates
The 61% approval rate for Nicholas Walter reflects all decisions on record since 2016. You can compare this against the 35% to 72% range observed among the 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Greenville. These figures provide a statistical baseline for the office's bench, 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 Walter. 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 Walter'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 trend for Nicholas Walter has shifted across the 2,137 decisions on record since 2016. After a period of relative stability between 2016 and 2018, the approval rate trended upward, peaking at 75% in 2021. Recent years have shown lower volumes, with the 2025 data representing a limited sample size. This pattern reflects how decision-making has evolved over the last decade.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Walter'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 Greenville hearing office
The Greenville hearing office serves you and other claimants across South Carolina and the surrounding region. It is supported by a bench of 13 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can expect a standard administrative process focused on the evaluation of your medical and vocational evidence.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Greenville
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 13 judges whose most recent office on record is Greenville. These judges demonstrate a wide range of approval rates, spanning from 35% to 72% 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
Nicholas Walter has an approval rate of 61% across 2,137 decisions on record since 2016. This sits within the 35% to 72% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is Greenville. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
Yes, the approval rate for Nicholas Walter has fluctuated over time. It began at 56% in 2016 and reached a high of 75% in 2021 before shifting in more recent years. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy in light of these 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 be prepared for any judge by working with a qualified attorney.
An SSDI hearing is a non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be asked about your daily limitations and work history. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your evidence to ensure the judge has a clear picture of your disability.
An approval rate is a probability cloud based on past decisions, not a prediction for your specific hearing. While Nicholas Walter has approved 61% of cases since 2016, your outcome depends on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your limitations. An attorney can help you build a stronger case regardless of the judge's historical average.
