2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G96.08Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak

ICD-10-CM Codes›G00–G99›G89-G99›G96

ICD-10-CM G96.08
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

G96.08 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative).

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
G96.08
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak
Short Description
Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
G96.0
Cerebrospinal fluid leak

Code Classification

ChapterG00–G99Diseases of the nervous system
SectionG89-G99Other disorders of the nervous system
CategoryG96Other disorders of central nervous system
This CodeG96.08Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea
  • Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak due to invasion by neoplasm of skull
  • Intracranial hypotension
  • Intracranial hypotension due to cerebrospinal fluid fistula
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to and following injury of head
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to and following procedure on central nervous system
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to and following surgical procedure
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to collagen deficiency syndrome
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to empty sella syndrome
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to hydrocephalus
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to osteomyelitis
  • Leak of cranial cerebrospinal fluid due to under-drainage of ventricular shunt
  • Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from nose following surgical procedure
  • Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Postoperative cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • Traumatic cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak

Code Also

  • if applicable:
  • head injury S00 S09

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.

    • Fistula(cutaneous)
      • cerebrospinal (fluid)
    • Leak, leakage
      • cerebrospinal fluid
        • cranial
          • postoperative
    • Leak, leakage
      • cerebrospinal fluid
        • cranial
          • specified NEC
    • Leak, leakage
      • cerebrospinal fluid
        • cranial
          • traumatic
    • Otorrhea
      • cerebrospinal (fluid)
        • postoperative
    • Otorrhea
      • cerebrospinal (fluid)
        • specified NEC
    • Otorrhea
      • cerebrospinal (fluid)
        • traumatic
    • Rhinorrhea
      • cerebrospinal (fluid)
        • postoperative
    • Rhinorrhea
      • cerebrospinal (fluid)
        • specified NEC
    • Rhinorrhea
      • cerebrospinal (fluid)
        • traumatic

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR NVS020
Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative)
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Intracranial Hypotension

    reduction of cerebrospinal fluid pressure characterized clinically by orthostatic headache and occasionally by an abducens nerve palsy; hearing loss; nausea; neck stiffness, and other symptoms. this condition may be spontaneous or secondary to cerebrospinal fluid leak; spinal puncture; neurosurgical procedures; dehydration; uremia; trauma (see also craniocerebral trauma); and other processes. chronic hypotension may be associated with subdural hematomas (see hematoma, subdural) or hygromas. (from semin neurol 1996 mar;16(1):5-10; adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp637-8)

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose. common etiologies include trauma, neoplasms, and prior surgery, although the condition may occur spontaneously. (otolaryngol head neck surg 1997 apr;116(4):442-9)

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement G96.08 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • G96.0 - Cerebrospinal fluid leak
FY 2021AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2020.
FY 2022–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About G96.08Overview

Is G96.08 (Cerebrospinal fluid leak) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

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.