2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L97.203Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with necrosis of muscle

ICD-10-CM Codes›L00–L99›L80-L99›L97

ICD-10-CM L97.203
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

L97.203 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with necrosis of muscle. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 573 through 575, 592 through 594. The code is flagged as an unspecified code, since codes identifying laterality exist in the same family. Coders also document this condition as chronic ulcer of calf. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Non-pressure ulcer of skin.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
L97.203
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with necrosis of muscle
Short Description
Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unsp calf w necrosis of muscle
Parent Code
L97.20
Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf

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 CodeL97.203Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with necrosis of muscle

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for L97.203.

Unspecified codes
Unspecified codes exist in the ICD-10-CM classification for circumstances when documentation in the medical record does not provide the level of detail needed to support reporting a more specific code. However, in the inpatient setting, there should generally be very limited and rare circumstances for which the laterality (right, left, bilateral) of a condition is unable to be documented and reported. The following pages contain the list of unspecified ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for which there is a more specific code to identify laterality (right, left, bilateral) within that code family.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Chronic ulcer of calf
  • Chronic ulcer of skin
  • Chronic ulcer of skin of calf
  • Chronic ulcer of skin of lower leg
  • Necrosis of calf muscle co-occurrent and due to chronic ulcer of calf
  • Necrosis of lower leg muscle co-occurrent and due to chronic ulcer of lower leg
  • Skin ulcer of calf

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative
      • lower limb (atrophic) (chronic) (neurogenic) (perforating) (pyogenic) (trophic) (tropical)
        • calf
          • with
            • muscle necrosis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SKN004
Non-pressure ulcer of skin
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Skin Conditions

Your skin is your body's largest organ. It covers the entire outside of your body. There are many ways that your skin protects your body and helps keep you healthy. For example, it:

The full article covers:

  • What does your skin do?
  • What problems and conditions can affect your skin?
  • How can I keep my skin healthy?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert L97.203 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
707.12 Ulcer of calf
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 L97.203Overview

Is L97.203 (Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with necrosis of muscle on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does L97.203 group to?

When non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with necrosis of muscle is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 573, 574, 575, 592, 593, 594, with relative weights from 0.8668 to 6.5514 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of L97.203?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified calf with necrosis of muscle converts to ICD-9-CM 707.12 (ulcer of calf). 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.