2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R06.02Shortness of breath

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R00-R09›R06

ICD-10-CM R06.02
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R06.02 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for shortness of breath. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. Coders also document this condition as dyspnea on dressing and undressing. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Respiratory signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R06.02
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Shortness of breath
Short Description
Shortness of breath
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R06.0
Dyspnea

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR00-R09Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems
CategoryR06Abnormalities of breathing
This CodeR06.02Shortness of breath

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Dyspnea on dressing and undressing
  • Dyspnea on exertion
  • Increasing breathlessness
  • Unable to complete a sentence in one breath

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.

    • Breath
      • shortness
    • Distress
      • respiratory (adult) (child)
        • shortness of breath
    • Dyspnea(nocturnal) (paroxysmal)
      • shortness of breath
    • Short, shortening, shortness
      • breath

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM013
Respiratory signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Dyspnea

    difficult or labored breathing.

  • Dyspnea, Paroxysmal

    a disorder characterized by sudden attacks of respiratory distress in at rest patients with heart failure and pulmonary edema. it usually occurs at night after several hours of sleep in a reclining position. patients awaken with a feeling of suffocation, coughing, a cold sweat, and tachycardia. when there is significant wheezing, it is called cardiac asthma.

  • Transfusion Reaction

    complications of blood transfusion. included adverse reactions are common allergic and febrile reactions; hemolytic (delayed and acute) reactions; and other non-hemolytic adverse reactions such as infections and adverse immune reactions related to immunocompatibility.

  • Blood Transfusion

    the introduction of whole blood or blood component directly into the blood stream. (dorland, 27th ed)

Patient EducationClinical

Breathing Problems

When you're short of breath, it's hard or uncomfortable for you to take in the oxygen your body needs. You may feel as if you're not getting enough air. Sometimes you can have mild breathing problems because of a stuffy nose or intense exercise. But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R06.02 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
786.05 Shortness of breath
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 R06.02Overview

Is R06.02 (Dyspnea) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report shortness of breath on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can R06.02 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the shortness of breath is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R06.02?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, shortness of breath converts to ICD-9-CM 786.05 (shortness of breath). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.