2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D51Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

ICD-10-CM Codes›D50–D89›D50-D53›D51

ICD-10-CM D51
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

D51 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as D51.0, D51.1, D51.2, and D51.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
D51
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Short Description
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
D50-D53
Nutritional anemias

Code Classification

ChapterD50–D89Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism
SectionD50-D53Nutritional anemias
CategoryD51Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
This CodeD51Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

Specific Coding for Vitamin B12 deficiency anemiaOverview

Non-specific codes like D51 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use D51.0 for Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia due to intrinsic factor deficiency

  • Use D51.1 for Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia due to selective vitamin B12 malabsorption with proteinuria

  • Use D51.2 for Transcobalamin II deficiency

  • Use D51.3 for Other dietary vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

  • Use D51.8 for Other vitamin B12 deficiency anemias

  • Use D51.9 for Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to D51: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 3. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

On D51 itself
  • deficiency of other B group vitamins (E53-)
From Chapter 3 (D50-D89) Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism applies to 324 codes
  • autoimmune disease (systemic) NOS (M35.9)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease (B20)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name D51, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 3

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming D51: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • E53.8 Deficiency of other specified B group vitamins
    vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (D51.-)
  • Block E40-E46 Malnutrition
    nutritional anemias (D50-D53) names D50-D53, which includes this code
  • Block E50-E64 Other nutritional deficiencies
    nutritional anemias (D50-D53) names D50-D53, which includes this code

Patient EducationClinical

Anemia

If you have anemia, your blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of your body. The most common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About D51Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia?

D51 is the ICD-10-CM category for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is D51 (Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia need a more specific code from this category, such as D51.0, D51.1, and D51.2.