2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I65.03Occlusion and stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries

ICD-10-CM Codes›I00–I99›I60-I69›I65

ICD-10-CM I65.03
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

I65.03 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for occlusion and stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries. 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 Occlusion or stenosis of precerebral or cerebral arteries without infarction.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
I65.03
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Occlusion and stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries
Short Description
Occlusion and stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
I65.0
Occlusion and stenosis of vertebral artery

Code Classification

ChapterI00–I99Diseases of the circulatory system
SectionI60-I69Cerebrovascular diseases
CategoryI65Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, not resulting in cerebral infarction
This CodeI65.03Occlusion and stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bilateral embolism of vertebral arteries
  • Bilateral stenosis of vertebral arteries
  • Bilateral thrombosis of vertebral arteries
  • Bilateral vertebral artery occlusion
  • Embolism of left vertebral artery
  • Embolism of right vertebral artery
  • Occlusion of left vertebral artery
  • Occlusion of right vertebral artery
  • Stenosis of left vertebral artery
  • Stenosis of right vertebral artery
  • Thrombosis of left vertebral artery
  • Thrombosis of right vertebral artery
  • Vertebral artery embolism
  • Vertebral artery occlusion
  • Vertebral artery stenosis
  • Vertebral artery thrombosis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR CIR023
Occlusion or stenosis of precerebral or cerebral arteries without infarction
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

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Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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Convert I65.03 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
433.20 Ocl vrtb art wo infrct
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 I65.03Overview

Is I65.03 (Occlusion and stenosis of vertebral artery) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report occlusion and stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of I65.03?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, occlusion and stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries converts to ICD-9-CM 433.20 (ocl vrtb art wo infrct). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.