Approval rates
Judge Howard has presided over 29,842 lifetime decisions during his 10-year tenure. In the most recent reporting period, his 59% approval rate outperformed the Kingsport office average of 56% and the national average of 58%. This data provides a statistical baseline for understanding how his courtroom has historically functioned. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
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 Howard'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 the past decade, Judge Howard has demonstrated a consistent approach to disability adjudication. His approval rates have fluctuated within a stable range, showing peaks of 66% in 2018 and maintaining a 64% rate as recently as 2024. The latest reporting period shows a slight adjustment to 59%, which aligns with his long-term career average. This pattern suggests a judge who evaluates cases based on the specific evidence provided rather than rigid adherence to a single outcome.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Howard'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 Howard? See if a free benefits review fits your case.
Check My BenefitsAbout the Kingsport hearing office
The Kingsport Hearing Office serves you across Tennessee and the surrounding region. With a bench of 6 judges, the office manages a significant volume of disability claims to ensure timely access to hearings. The office currently maintains an average approval rate of 56%, reflecting the broader regional trends in disability adjudication. 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 Howard is essentially random. Across the Kingsport office, lifetime approval rates among the bench range from 45% to 77%. This variance highlights why the specific judge assigned to your case can influence the process. You can review the full ALJ roster on the Kingsport Hearing Office page.
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.