Approval rates
Judge Burton maintains a lifetime approval rate of 47% based on 16,293 decisions. In the most recent reporting period, his 46% approval rate trailed the Kingsport Hearing Office average of 56% and the national average of 58%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for his courtroom, though they are not a guarantee of how he will view the medical evidence in your case. You can find more information on the Kingsport Hearing Office page.
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 Burton'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
Over his 9 years on the bench, Judge Burton has presided over a significant volume of cases. His yearly approval trends show fluctuation, moving from 58% in 2018 to 46% in 2025. This pattern suggests a consistent approach to evaluating disability claims, with the latest period remaining aligned with his long-term career average. These shifts often reflect changes in the types of cases heard or the quality of evidence presented.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Burton'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.
Hearing with Judge Burton? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Free Benefits ReviewAbout the Kingsport hearing office
The Kingsport Hearing Office serves a broad region in Tennessee, managing a high volume of disability claims. With a bench of 6 judges, the office maintains an active caseload that reflects the diverse needs of the local workforce. You can expect a professional environment focused on the rigorous evaluation of medical and vocational evidence. You can see the Kingsport Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges at this hearing office
The Social Security Administration utilizes a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your assignment to Judge Burton is essentially random. Across the Kingsport Hearing Office, lifetime approval rates among the 6 judges range from 45% to 77%. While these differences exist, the core requirements for proving disability remain consistent regardless of which judge is assigned to your hearing.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.