2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R06.03Acute respiratory distress

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R00-R09›R06

ICD-10-CM R06.03
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R06.03 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute respiratory distress. 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. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Respiratory signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R06.03
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Acute respiratory distress
Short Description
Acute respiratory distress
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 CodeR06.03Acute respiratory distress

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute respiratory distress
  • Autosomal recessive distal hereditary motor neuropathy
  • Early-onset myopathy, areflexia, respiratory distress, dysphagia syndrome
  • Respiratory distress
  • Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1
  • Transient respiratory distress with sepsis

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.

    • Distress
      • acute respiratory
    • Distress
      • respiratory (adult) (child)

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)

Convert R06.03 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
518.82 Other pulmonary insuff
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
770.89 Resp prob after brth NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement R06.03 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • R06.00 - Dyspnea, unspecified
FY 2018AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2017.
FY 2019–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About R06.03Overview

Is R06.03 (Dyspnea) a billable code?

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

Can R06.03 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R06.03?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, acute respiratory distress converts to ICD-9-CM 518.82 (other pulmonary insuff) and 770.89 (resp prob after brth NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.