2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J68Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J60-J70›J68

ICD-10-CM J68
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J68 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J68.0, J68.1, J68.2, and J68.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J68
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
Short Description
Resp cond d/t inhalation of chemicals, gas, fumes and vapors
Chapter
J60-J70
Lung diseases due to external agents

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ60-J70Lung diseases due to external agents
CategoryJ68Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
This CodeJ68Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Specific Coding for Resp cond d/t inhalation of chemicals, gas, fumes and vaporsOverview

Non-specific codes like J68 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J68.0 for Bronchitis and pneumonitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

  • Use J68.1 for Pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

  • Use J68.2 for Upper respiratory inflammation due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors, not elsewhere classified

  • Use J68.3 for Other acute and subacute respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

  • Use J68.4 for Chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

  • Use J68.8 for Other respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

  • Use J68.9 for Unspecified respiratory condition due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J68: its own notes plus those printed at block J60-J70 and Chapter 10. 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.

From Block J60-J70 Lung diseases due to external agents applies to 45 codes
  • asthma (J45.-)
  • malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung (C34.-)
From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • 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)
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

On J68 itself
  • code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
  • acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)
From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name J68, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J68: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • J81 Pulmonary edema
    pulmonary edema due to external agents (J60-J70) names J60-J70, which includes this code

Excludes2 5

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming J68: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • J18 Pneumonia, unspecified organism
    pneumonitis due to external agents (J67-J70) names J67-J70, which includes this code
  • J44.1 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation
    lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70) names J60-J70, which includes this code
  • J44.9 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified
    lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70) names J60-J70, which includes this code
  • J45.909 Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated
    lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70) names J60-J70, which includes this code
  • J84 Other interstitial pulmonary diseases
    lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70) names J60-J70, which includes this code

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and J68 is one of the conditions named.

  • J84.170 Interstitial lung disease with progressive fibrotic phenotype in diseases classified elsewhere
    lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70) names J60-J70, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and J68 is one of the codes named.

  • Block T51-T65 Toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source
    for all associated manifestations of toxic effect, such as: respiratory conditions due to external agents (J60-J70) names J60-J70, which includes this code

Patient EducationClinical

Inhalation Injuries

Inhalation injuries are acute injuries to your respiratory system and lungs. They can happen if you breathe in toxic substances, such as smoke (from fires), chemicals, particle pollution, and gases. Inhalation injuries can also be caused by extreme heat; these are a type of thermal injuries.

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 J68Overview

Is J68 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors need a more specific code from this category, such as J68.0, J68.1, and J68.2.

Does J68 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as: acute respiratory failure (J96.0-). The additional code is reported after J68.