Scarring hair loss

The key question in your records is how much of your scalp the scarring covers. A dermatologist or other treating provider who measures or estimates the percentage of scalp affected gives VA the clearest basis for placing you in the right rating level. Photographs taken at medical appointments that show the extent and distribution of hair loss can also support that measurement.

Biopsy results or clinical notes confirming that the hair loss is caused by scarring, rather than another type of hair loss, help establish the diagnosis itself. Records of any treatments you have received — whether applied to the skin or taken by mouth or injection — document the ongoing nature of the condition. Statements from you or people who know you, describing how the scarring and hair loss appear over time, can round out the picture of severity, particularly if provider visits have been infrequent.