2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H81.90Unspecified disorder of vestibular function, unspecified ear
ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H80-H83›H81
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
H81.90 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified disorder of vestibular function, unspecified ear. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 149. Coders also document this condition as acute vestibular syndrome. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Diseases of inner ear and related conditions.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Acute vestibular syndrome
- Acute vestibular syndrome due to anxiety and fear
- Acute vestibular syndrome due to cerebrovascular disease
- Acute vestibular syndrome due to episodic vestibular disorder
- Drug induced dysfunction of vestibular system
- Dysfunction of vestibular system
- Equilibration disorder, vestibular nerve
- Post-traumatic vestibular dysfunction
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H81.90: its own notes plus those printed at H81 and Chapter 8. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
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.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- 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)
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- Use an external cause code following the code for the ear condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the ear condition
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name H81.90, its category, or a range that includes it.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Balance Problems
Have you ever felt dizzy, lightheaded, or as if the room is spinning around you? If the feeling happens often, it could be a sign of a balance problem. Balance problems can make you feel unsteady. You may also have blurred vision, confusion, and disorientation.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert H81.90 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About H81.90Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for unspecified disorder of vestibular function, unspecified ear?
The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified disorder of vestibular function, unspecified ear is H81.90 (sometimes written as H8190). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is H81.90 (Unspecified disorder of vestibular function) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified disorder of vestibular function, unspecified ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does H81.90 group to?
When unspecified disorder of vestibular function, unspecified ear is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 149 (dysequilibrium), which carries a relative weight of 0.7526. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can H81.90 be reported with A88.1?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at H81, which applies to H81.90, lists "epidemic vertigo (A88.1)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H81.90?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified disorder of vestibular function, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 386.9 (vertiginous synd NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
