2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R42Dizziness and giddiness

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R40-R46›R42

ICD-10-CM R42
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R42 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for dizziness and giddiness. 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 General sensation/perception signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R42
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Dizziness and giddiness
Chapter
R40-R46
Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR40-R46Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior
CategoryR42Dizziness and giddiness
This CodeR42Dizziness and giddiness

Quality Payment Program MeasuresBilling

Medicare quality measures that can apply when R42 is part of the patient record.

Referral for Otologic Evaluation for Patients with Acute or Chronic Dizziness

High Priority: YES

Measure Type: Process

Submission Methods: Claims, Registry

Description: Percentage of patients aged birth and older referred to a physician (preferably a physician specially trained in disorders of the ear) for an otologic evaluation subsequent to an audiologic evaluation after presenting with acute or chronic dizziness.

View Measure

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Apoplectic vertigo
  • Cervical vertigo
  • Chronic vertigo
  • Congenital non-progressive ataxia
  • Constant vertigo
  • Dissociative neurological symptom disorder co-occurrent with dizziness
  • Dizziness
  • Dizziness and giddiness
  • Dizziness caused by drug
  • Dizziness following neck extension
  • Dizziness of unknown cause
  • Dizziness on standing up
  • Dizziness present
  • Dizzy spells
  • Dysequilibrium syndrome
  • Episodic recurrent vertigo
  • Essential vertigo
  • Exertional dizziness
  • Felt faint
  • Giddiness
  • Giddiness present
  • Lateral vertigo
  • Lightheadedness
  • Loss of equilibrium
  • Mal de debarquement syndrome
  • Multisensory dizziness
  • Nocturnal vertigo
  • Non-labyrinthine vertigo
  • Non-progressive cerebellar ataxia
  • Objective vertigo
  • Ocular vertigo
  • Oscillation of surroundings
  • Persistent postural perceptual dizziness
  • Posttraumatic vertigo
  • Postural dizziness
  • Postural lightheadedness
  • Severe vertigo
  • Severe vertigo, acute onset
  • Subjective vertigo
  • Vertigo
  • Vertigo as late effect of stroke
  • Vertigo as sequela of cerebrovascular disease
  • Vertigo as sequela of ischemic cerebrovascular accident
  • Vertigo associated with recent change in eyeglasses
  • Vertigo caused by drug
  • Vertigo due to and following embolic cerebrovascular accident
  • Vertigo due to and following hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident
  • Vertigo due to brain injury
  • Vertigo due to cervical arthrosis
  • Vertigo on awakening
  • Vertigo preceded by chewing
  • Vertigo preceded by head injury
  • Vertigo preceded by prolonged dental work or oral surgery
  • Vertigo preceded by unsteady feeling
  • Vertigo produced by neck pressure
  • Vertigo when trying to urinate
  • Vertigo, acute onset with vomiting and inability to stand
  • Vomiting symptom

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Light-headedness
  • Vertigo NOS

Type 1 Excludes

  • vertiginous syndromes H81
  • vertigo from infrasound T75.23

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.

    • Disturbance(s)
      • equilibrium
    • Dizziness
    • Dysequilibrium
    • Giddiness
    • Light
      • headedness
    • Swimming in the head
    • Syndrome
      • Mal de Debarquement
    • Vertigo

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM015
General sensation/perception signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

    idiopathic recurrent vertigo associated with positional nystagmus. it is associated with a vestibular loss without other neurological or auditory signs. unlike in labyrinthitis and vestibular neuronitis, inflammation in the ear is not observed.

  • Betahistine

    a histamine analog and h1 receptor agonist that serves as a vasodilator. it is used in meniere disease and in vascular headaches but may exacerbate bronchial asthma and peptic ulcers.

  • Dimenhydrinate

    a drug combination that contains diphenhydramine and theophylline. it is used for treating vertigo, motion sickness, and nausea associated with pregnancy.

  • Meniere Disease

    a disease of the inner ear (labyrinth) that is characterized by fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss; tinnitus; episodic vertigo; and aural fullness. it is the most common form of endolymphatic hydrops.

  • Sulpiride

    a dopamine d2-receptor antagonist. it has been used therapeutically as an antidepressant, antipsychotic, and as a digestive aid. (from merck index, 11th ed)

  • Syncope

    a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by diminished blood flow to the brain (i.e., brain ischemia). presyncope refers to the sensation of lightheadedness and loss of strength that precedes a syncopal event or accompanies an incomplete syncope. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp367-9)

  • Vertigo

    an illusion of movement, either of the external world revolving around the individual or of the individual revolving in space. vertigo may be associated with disorders of the inner ear (ear, inner); vestibular nerve; brainstem; or cerebral cortex. lesions in the temporal lobe and parietal lobe may be associated with focal seizures that may feature vertigo as an ictal manifestation. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp300-1)

  • Vestibular Neuronitis

    idiopathic inflammation of the vestibular nerve, characterized clinically by the acute or subacute onset of vertigo; nausea; and imbalance. the cochlear nerve is typically spared and hearing loss and tinnitus do not usually occur. symptoms usually resolve over a period of days to weeks. (adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p304)

  • Dizziness

    an imprecise term which may refer to a sense of spatial disorientation, motion of the environment, or lightheadedness.

  • Brain Ischemia

    localized reduction of blood flow to brain tissue due to arterial obstruction or systemic hypoperfusion. this frequently occurs in conjunction with brain hypoxia (hypoxia, brain). prolonged ischemia is associated with brain infarction.

  • Grade 2 Vertigo, CTCAE|Grade 2 Vertigo

    moderate symptoms; limiting instrumental adl or mild/moderate impact on age-appropriate normal daily activity (pediatric)

  • Grade 3 Vertigo, CTCAE|Grade 3 Vertigo

    severe symptoms; limiting self-care adl or severe impact on age-appropriate normal daily activity (pediatric)

  • Grade 1 Vertigo, CTCAE|Grade 1 Vertigo

    mild symptoms

  • Grade 2 Vertigo, CTCAE|Grade 2 Vertigo

    moderate symptoms; limiting instrumental adl

  • Grade 3 Vertigo, CTCAE|Grade 3 Vertigo

    severe symptoms; limiting self care adl

  • Vertigo

    a feeling of movement, a sensation as if the external world were revolving around the patient (objective vertigo) or as if he himself were revolving in space (subjective vertigo). vertigo is medically distinct from dizziness, lightheadedness, and unsteadiness.

  • Vertigo, CTCAE|Vertigo|Vertigo

    a disorder characterized by a sensation as if the external world were revolving around the patient (objective vertigo) or as if he himself were revolving in space (subjective vertigo).

Patient EducationClinical

Dizziness and Vertigo

When you're dizzy, you may feel lightheaded, woozy, or disoriented. If you feel like you or the room are spinning, you have vertigo. These feelings may make you lose your balance.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R42 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
780.4 Dizziness and giddiness
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 R42Overview

Is R42 (Dizziness and giddiness) a billable code?

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

Can R42 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R42?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, dizziness and giddiness converts to ICD-9-CM 780.4 (dizziness and giddiness). 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.