Approval rates
The 41% approval rate for Carolyn Keen reflects her entire record since 2019, which provides a sample size of 2,512 decisions. This figure sits within the 41% to 88% range observed among other judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport. These aggregate rates describe past decisions rather than predicting the outcome of your specific hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Keen. 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 Keen'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 2019, Carolyn Keen has issued 2,512 decisions. Her yearly approval trend shows fluctuations, with 38% in 2019, 41% in 2020, 34% in 2021, 39% in 2022, 53% in 2023, 45% in 2024, and 52% in 2025. This variance is common in disability adjudication, where the specific mix of medical evidence and case complexity shifts from year to year.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Keen'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
The Kingsport hearing office serves you and other claimants in Tennessee and the surrounding region. It is supported by a bench of 15 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can see the Kingsport Hearing Office page for the full ALJ roster.
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. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is Kingsport, and their approval rates vary across their respective records. Because this assignment process is automated, you cannot request a specific judge for your hearing.
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
Carolyn Keen has a 41% approval rate on record since 2019. This places her at the lower end of the 41% to 88% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the Kingsport hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how to present your medical evidence effectively regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
Carolyn Keen's approval rate has fluctuated, starting at 38% in 2019 and reaching 53% in 2023 before adjusting to 45% in 2024 and 52% in 2025. These shifts often reflect changes in the types of cases or the quality of evidence presented. A qualified attorney can help you prepare your case to meet the specific standards of your hearing.
No, you cannot request a specific judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using an automated workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, you should focus on building a strong case with the help of an attorney rather than attempting to influence the judge assignment.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears your testimony. You may be questioned about your work history, daily limitations, and the severity of your impairments. Having an attorney present can help ensure your testimony is clear and that all relevant medical evidence is properly entered into the record.
