2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code B02.9Zoster without complications

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›B00-B09›B02

ICD-10-CM B02.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

B02.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for zoster without complications. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 595 through 596, 974 through 976. Coders also document this condition as herpes zoster. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Viral infection.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
B02.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Zoster without complications
Short Description
Zoster without complications
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
B02
Zoster [herpes zoster]

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionB00-B09Viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions
CategoryB02Zoster [herpes zoster]
This CodeB02.9Zoster without complications

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Herpes zoster
  • Herpes zoster of skin of neck
  • Herpes zoster with AIDS
  • Infection caused by herpes zoster virus co-occurrent with human immunodeficiency virus infection
  • Neuritis co-occurrent with human immunodeficiency virus infection
  • Zoster sine herpete

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Zoster NOS

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Herpes, herpesvirus, herpetic
      • zoster
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • herpes (simplex)
        • zoster

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INF008
Viral infection
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Zoster Sine Herpete

    herpes zoster but without eruption of vesicles. patients exhibit the characteristic pain minus the skin rash, sometimes making diagnosis difficult.

  • Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster

    inflammation of brain tissue caused by infection with the varicella-zoster virus (herpesvirus 3, human). this condition is associated with immunocompromised states, including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. pathologically, the virus tends to induce a vasculopathy and infect oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells, leading to cerebral infarction, multifocal regions of demyelination, and periventricular necrosis. manifestations of varicella encephalitis usually occur 5-7 days after onset of herpes zoster and include headache; vomiting; lethargy; focal neurologic deficits; fever; and coma. (from joynt, clinical neurology, 1996, ch 26, pp29-32; hum pathol 1996 sep;27(9):927-38)

  • Herpes Zoster

    an acute infectious, usually self-limited, disease believed to represent activation of latent varicella-zoster virus (herpesvirus 3, human) in those who have been rendered partially immune after a previous attack of chickenpox. it involves the sensory ganglia and their areas of innervation and is characterized by severe neuralgic pain along the distribution of the affected nerve and crops of clustered vesicles over the area. (from dorland, 27th ed)

  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

    virus infection of the gasserian ganglion and its nerve branches characterized by pain and vesicular eruptions with much swelling. ocular involvement is usually heralded by a vesicle on the tip of the nose. this area is innervated by the nasociliary nerve.

  • Herpes Zoster Oticus

    a syndrome characterized by facial palsy in association with a herpetic eruption of the external auditory meatus. this may occasionally be associated with tinnitus, vertigo, deafness, severe otalgia, and inflammation of the pinna. the condition is caused by reactivation of a latent herpesvirus 3, human infection which causes inflammation of the facial and vestibular nerves, and may occasionally involve additional cranial nerves. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p757)

  • Herpes Zoster Vaccine

    an attenuated vaccine used to prevent and/or treat herpes zoster, a disease caused by human herpesvirus 3.

  • Herpesvirus 3, Human

    the type species of varicellovirus causing chickenpox (varicella) and herpes zoster (shingles) in humans.

Patient EducationClinical

Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) is an infection that causes a painful rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have chickenpox, the virus stays in your body. It may not cause problems for many years. But as you get older, the virus may become active again and cause shingles.

The full article covers:

  • What is shingles?
  • Is shingles contagious?
  • Who is at risk for shingles?
  • What are the symptoms of shingles?
  • What other problems can shingles cause?
  • How is shingles diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for shingles?
  • Can shingles be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert B02.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
053.9 Herpes zoster NOS
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About B02.9Overview

Is B02.9 (Zoster [herpes zoster]) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report zoster without complications on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does B02.9 group to?

When zoster without complications is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 595, 596, 974, 975, 976, with relative weights from 0.8945 to 2.8860 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of B02.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, zoster without complications converts to ICD-9-CM 053.9 (herpes zoster NOS). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.