2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Codes›L00–L99›L80-L99›L97

ICD-10-CM L97
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

L97 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as L97.101, L97.102, L97.103, and L97.104.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
L97
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified
Short Description
Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, NEC
Chapter
L80-L99
Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Code Classification

ChapterL00–L99Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
SectionL80-L99Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
CategoryL97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified
This CodeL97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified

Specific Coding for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, NECOverview

Non-specific codes like L97 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • L97.1 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of thigh

  • L97.10 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified thigh

  • L97.11 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right thigh

  • L97.12 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left thigh

  • L97.2 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of calf

  • L97.20 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf

  • L97.21 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right calf

  • L97.22 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left calf

  • L97.3 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of ankle

  • L97.30 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified ankle

  • L97.31 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right ankle

  • L97.32 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left ankle

  • L97.4 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of heel and midfoot

  • L97.40 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified heel and midfoot

  • L97.41 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right heel and midfoot

  • L97.42 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left heel and midfoot

  • L97.5 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of foot

  • L97.50 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified foot

  • L97.51 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of right foot

  • L97.52 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot

  • L97.8 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of lower leg

  • L97.80 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg

  • L97.81 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of right lower leg

  • L97.82 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left lower leg

  • L97.9 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg

  • L97.90 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg

  • L97.91 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg

  • L97.92 for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to L97: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 12. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

  • chronic ulcer of skin of lower limb NOS
  • non-healing ulcer of skin
  • non-infected sinus of skin
  • trophic ulcer NOS
  • tropical ulcer NOS
  • ulcer of skin of lower limb NOS

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.

On L97 itself
  • pressure ulcer (pressure area) (L89.-)
  • skin infections (L00-L08)
  • specific infections classified to A00-B99
From Chapter 12 (L00-L99) Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue applies to 1,001 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)
  • lipomelanotic reticulosis (I89.8)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
  • systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)
  • viral warts (B07.-)

Code First

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

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name L97, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 3

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming L97: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • L89 Pressure ulcer
    non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin (L97.-)
  • L98.4 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified
    ulcer of lower limb NEC (L97.-)
  • L98.A Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper limb, not elsewhere classified
    ulcer of lower limb NEC (L97.-)

Use Additional Code 26

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and L97 is one of the codes named.

  • I70.23 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of right leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.24 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of left leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.26 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with gangrene
    code to identify the severity of any ulcer (L97.-, L98.49-), if applicable
  • I70.33 Atherosclerosis of unspecified type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.34 Atherosclerosis of unspecified type of bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.36 Atherosclerosis of unspecified type of bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene
    code to identify the severity of any ulcer (L97.-, L98.49-), if applicable
  • I70.43 Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.44 Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.46 Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene
    code to identify the severity of any ulcer (L97.-, L98.49-), if applicable
  • I70.53 Atherosclerosis of nonautologous biological bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.54 Atherosclerosis of nonautologous biological bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.56 Atherosclerosis of nonautologous biological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene
    code to identify the severity of any ulcer (L97.-, L98.49-), if applicable
  • I70.63 Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.64 Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the left leg with ulceration
    code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
  • I70.66 Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene
    code to identify the severity of any ulcer (L97.-, L98.49-), if applicable

11 more Use Additional Code notes name this code. Browse all Use Additional Code notes.

Patient EducationClinical

Skin Conditions

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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 L97Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified?

L97 is the ICD-10-CM category for non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is L97 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified need a more specific code from this category, such as L97.101, L97.102, and L97.103.

What is coded first with L97?

The Code First note reads: any associated underlying condition, such as: any associated gangrene (I96); atherosclerosis of the lower extremities (I70.23-, I70.24-, I70.33-, I70.34-, I70.43-, I70.44-, I70.53-, I70.54-, I70.63-, I70.64-, I70.73-, I70.74-); chronic venous hypertension (I87.31-, I87.33-); diabetic ulcers (E08.621, E08.622, E09.621, E09.622, E10.621, E10.622, E11.621, E11.622, E13.621, E13.622); postphlebitic syndrome (I87.01-, I87.03-); and 2 more listed in the Instructional Notes section. When one of these applies, it is sequenced before L97.