2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H81.20Vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H80-H83›H81

ICD-10-CM H81.20
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H81.20 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Coders also document this condition as hypohidrosis. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Diseases of inner ear and related conditions.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H81.20
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear
Short Description
Vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H81.2
Vestibular neuronitis

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH80-H83Diseases of inner ear
CategoryH81Disorders of vestibular function
This CodeH81.20Vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Hypohidrosis
  • Hypohidrosis with neurolabyrinthitis
  • Recurrent vestibulopathy
  • Vestibular neuronitis of inner ear

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR EAR003
Diseases of inner ear and related conditions
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Hypohidrosis

    abnormally diminished or absent perspiration. both generalized and segmented (reduced or absent sweating in circumscribed locations) forms of the disease are usually associated with other underlying conditions.

  • Grade 2 Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Grade 2 Hypohidrosis

    symptomatic; limiting instrumental adl or mild/moderate impact on age-appropriate normal daily activity (pediatric)

  • Grade 3 Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Grade 3 Hypohidrosis

    increase in body temperature; limiting self-care adl or severe impact on age-appropriate normal daily activity (pediatric)

  • Grade 4 Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Grade 4 Hypohidrosis

    life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated

  • Grade 2 Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Grade 2 Hypohidrosis

    symptomatic; limiting instrumental adl

  • Grade 3 Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Grade 3 Hypohidrosis

    increase in body temperature; limiting self care adl

  • Grade 4 Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Grade 4 Hypohidrosis

    heat stroke

  • Grade 5 Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Grade 5 Hypohidrosis

    death

  • Hypohidrosis

    reduced sweating. causes include burns, dehydration, radiation, and leprosy.

  • Hypohidrosis, CTCAE|Hypohidrosis|Hypohidrosis

    a disorder characterized by reduced sweating.

Patient EducationClinical

Dizziness and Vertigo

When you're dizzy, you may feel lightheaded, woozy, or disoriented. If you feel like you or the room are spinning, you have vertigo. These feelings may make you lose your balance.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert H81.20 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
386.12 Vestibular neuronitis
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 H81.20Overview

Is H81.20 (Vestibular neuronitis) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H81.20?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 386.12 (vestibular neuronitis). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.