2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R26.81Unsteadiness on feet

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R25-R29›R26

ICD-10-CM R26.81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R26.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unsteadiness on feet. 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 Nervous system signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R26.81
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unsteadiness on feet
Short Description
Unsteadiness on feet
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R26.8
Other abnormalities of gait and mobility

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR25-R29Symptoms and signs involving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
CategoryR26Abnormalities of gait and mobility
This CodeR26.81Unsteadiness on feet

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Difficulty balancing
  • Difficulty balancing when standing
  • Does not balance
  • Does not balance when standing
  • Feels as though will fall
  • Finding of general balance
  • Finding of turning balance when walking
  • Keeps losing balance
  • Postural sway when standing
  • Unable to balance
  • Unable to balance when standing
  • Unable to balance when standing with both feet apart
  • Unable to balance when standing with both feet in semi tandem stance
  • Unable to balance when standing with both feet in tandem stance
  • Unable to balance when standing with both feet together
  • Unsteadiness present
  • Unsteady when standing
  • Unsteady when turning

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.

    • Gait abnormality
      • unsteadiness
    • Unsteadiness on feet

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

Walking Problems

If you are like most people, you walk thousands of steps each day. You walk to do your daily activities, get around, and exercise. It's something that you usually don't think about. But for those people who have a problem with walking, daily life can be more difficult.

The full article covers:

  • What are walking problems?
  • What causes walking problems?
  • How is the cause of a walking problem diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for walking problems?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R26.81 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
781.2 Abnormality of gait
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 R26.81Overview

Is R26.81 (Other abnormalities of gait and mobility) a billable code?

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

Can R26.81 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R26.81?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unsteadiness on feet converts to ICD-9-CM 781.2 (abnormality of gait). 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.