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SSA Hearing Office

Norfolk, VA Hearing Office

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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Most Favorable Judges

Norfolk, VA

1 Cohen, Kerith
Approval Rate
56%
Full Approval
48%
Total Decisions
14,453
2 Gendreau, Chad
Approval Rate
55%
Full Approval
42%
Total Decisions
24,035
3 Jordan, Jeffrey M
Approval Rate
54%
Full Approval
38%
Total Decisions
28,316
4 Pflugrath, William
Approval Rate
54%
Full Approval
52%
Total Decisions
18,581
5 Dodson, O. P
Approval Rate
54%
Full Approval
46%
Total Decisions
18,242
6 Goldstein, Stewart
Approval Rate
53%
Full Approval
45%
Total Decisions
8,900
7 Bright, Maryann S
Approval Rate
51%
Full Approval
29%
Total Decisions
26,093
8 Flynn, Monica L
Approval Rate
50%
Full Approval
46%
Total Decisions
14,611
9 Matula, Carol
Approval Rate
49%
Full Approval
36%
Total Decisions
24,230
10 Vest, Jr., William T
Approval Rate
49%
Full Approval
42%
Total Decisions
9,589
11 Pianin, Irving A
Approval Rate
48%
Full Approval
41%
Total Decisions
10,985
Rank Judge Approval Rate Full Approval Total Decisions
1Cohen, Kerith 56% 48% 14,453
2Gendreau, Chad 55% 42% 24,035
3Jordan, Jeffrey M 54% 38% 28,316
4Pflugrath, William 54% 52% 18,581
5Dodson, O. P 54% 46% 18,242
6Goldstein, Stewart 53% 45% 8,900
7Bright, Maryann S 51% 29% 26,093
8Flynn, Monica L 50% 46% 14,611
9Matula, Carol 49% 36% 24,230
10Vest, Jr., William T 49% 42% 9,589
11Pianin, Irving A 48% 41% 10,985

Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer

SSDI hearing approval rates — with a lawyer vs. on your own

WITHOUT A LAWYER
1×
baseline approval rate
Applicants without a lawyer
WITH A LAWYER
~3×
higher approval rate
Applicants with a lawyer
Check My Benefits

Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37 — analysis of SSA ALJ adult disability decisions, FY 2007–2015. Applicants with a lawyer got approved at a rate nearly three times higher than those without. Individual case outcomes vary based on medical evidence, the specific judge, and quality of representation. Checking whether you qualify for a free benefits review takes 2 minutes.

Wait Time Trend

Average months from hearing request to decision — last 16 months

Wait (months)
01020Jun '24Sep '25

Nearest SSA Field Offices

Where to apply or check on your claim in person

Accomac, VA
22581 CENTER PKWY, ACCOMAC, VA 23301
Alexandria, VA
5510 CHEROKEE AVE, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312
Bristol, VA
3280 LEE HIGHWAY, BRISTOL, VA 24202
Charlottesville, VA
1470 PANTOPS MTN PL, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911
Chesterfield, VA
600 SOUTHLAKE BLVD, NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA 23236

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Only 34.3% of first-time SSDI applications get approved in Virginia.

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Frequently Asked Questions

About This Data

Statistics come from SSA's Office of Hearings Operations reports and publicly available judge decision data. Approval rates count both full and partial approvals. Wait times reflect the average from hearing request to decision. Data is based on 2025-09-26 reports and may not reflect current conditions. This page is for informational purposes only.

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ClaimsBoost is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ClaimsBoost is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Performance scores, rankings, and statistics displayed on this site are calculated by ClaimsBoost using publicly available government data from the SSA. Individual results may vary. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice or a guarantee of benefits. If you need legal help, we can connect you with licensed attorneys or accredited representatives in your area.