2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R25.0Abnormal head movements

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R25-R29›R25

ICD-10-CM R25.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R25.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for abnormal head movements. 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 abnormal movement. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Nervous system signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R25.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Abnormal head movements
Short Description
Abnormal head movements
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R25
Abnormal involuntary movements

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR25-R29Symptoms and signs involving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
CategoryR25Abnormal involuntary movements
This CodeR25.0Abnormal head movements

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abnormal movement
  • Difficulty controlling head posture
  • Difficulty controlling posture
  • Finding related to ability to control head posture
  • Head movements abnormal

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.

    • Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
      • head movement
    • Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
      • movement (disorder)
        • head
    • Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
      • movement (disorder)
        • involuntary
          • of head

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM010
Nervous system signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Movement Disorders

Movement disorders are neurologic conditions that cause problems with movement, such as:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R25.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
781.0 Abn involun movement NEC
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 R25.0Overview

Is R25.0 (Abnormal involuntary movements) a billable code?

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

Can R25.0 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R25.0?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, abnormal head movements converts to ICD-9-CM 781.0 (abn involun movement 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.