Approval rates
Comparing approval rates provides context for how a judge's decisions align with broader trends. Judge Howard's 63% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, is measured against the office, state, and national averages for that same period. With 5,161 total decisions on record since 2016, the data offers a look at past patterns.
SSA publishes no office- or national-level breakdown of fully favorable and denial rates. The 12 months are SSA's figures for this fiscal year to date plus the rest of the previous fiscal year; how we calculate them.
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
Since 2016, Judge Howard has issued 5,161 decisions. The approval rate has fluctuated over this period, with yearly figures ranging from 58% to 67%. The most recent 12 months show an approval rate of 63%, which sits above the 63% average recorded since 2016.
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.
About the Kingsport hearing office
Charles R. Howard's most recent office on record is the Kingsport Hearing Office, with decisions there through July 2026. This office maintains a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one. The office recorded a 55% approval rate over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. You can find more information on the Kingsport Hearing Office page.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. Among the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 31% to 78% over the 12 months to July 31, 2026. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, 8 of whom decided cases here in SSA's latest file.
Judges with similar approval rates
These active judges' approval rates over the same 12 months (July 26, 2025 – July 31, 2026) are closest to Judge Howard's 63%. All five last decided cases in Tennessee.
- 62% Approval rate, last 12 months John A. Pottinger
- 64% Approval rate, last 12 months Lauren Logan Benedict
- 64% Approval rate, last 12 months James Dixon
- 65% Approval rate, last 12 months David Willis
- 60% Approval rate, last 12 months John R. Daughtry
Rates within 5 points of each other are hard to tell apart at a typical caseload, so treat these as judges with comparable records, not a ranking. See Judge Howard and the three closest side by side →
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
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2026, Judge Howard's 63% approval rate is higher than the 55% average for the Kingsport office. Among the 8 judges who decided cases here in SSA's latest file, approval rates range from 31% to 78%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Judge Howard's approval rate has varied year-to-year since 2016, with a record of 63% across 5,161 total decisions. While the rate has moved between 58% and 67% over the years, the most recent 12-month figure of 63% remains consistent with the long-term trend. An attorney can help you understand how these patterns might relate to your case.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases to judges, which is designed to be random. An attorney can help you focus on preparing the strongest possible evidence for your hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and is not a prediction of how Judge Howard will rule on your specific claim. The outcome of your hearing depends primarily on the medical evidence and vocational testimony you present. An attorney can help you organize this evidence to ensure your case is presented effectively.
