2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S06.9X0AUnspecified intracranial injury without loss of consciousness, initial encounter
S06.9X0A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified intracranial injury without loss of consciousness, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 963 through 965. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Traumatic brain injury (TBI); concussion, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Brain disorder resulting from a period of impaired oxygen delivery to the brain
- Brain injury with open intracranial wound
- Brain injury with open intracranial wound AND concussion
- Cerebral decompression injury
- Cerebral trauma
- Closed fracture of base of skull
- Closed fracture of base of skull with intracranial injury
- Closed fracture of vault of skull
- Closed fracture vault of skull with intracranial injury
- Closed skull fracture with intracranial injury
- Crush injury of musculoskeletal structure
- Crushing injury of skull
- Crushing injury of skull and intracranial contents
- Decompression sickness type II
- Dystonia due to head injury
- Dystonia due to perinatal cerebral injury
- Hydrocephalus ex vacuo
- Hydrocephalus ex vacuo due to injury of brain
- Injuries of brain and cranial nerves with injuries of nerves and spinal cord at neck level
- Intracranial injury
- Multiple injuries of vertebral column region
- Multiple intracranial injuries
- Neurological decompression syndrome
- Open fracture of base of skull
- Open fracture of base of skull with intracranial injury
- Open fracture of base of skull with intracranial injury, with no loss of consciousness
- Open fracture of vault of skull
- Open fracture of vault of skull with intracranial injury, with no loss of consciousness
- Open fracture vault of skull with intracranial injury
- Open skull fracture with intracranial injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Traumatic brain injury of unknown intent
- Traumatic brain injury with no loss of consciousness
- Traumatic or nontraumatic brain injury
- Vertigo due to brain injury
- Visceral decompression injury
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Intracranial injury (S06). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a sudden injury that causes damage to the brain. It may happen when there is a blow, bump, or jolt to the head. This is a closed head injury. A TBI can also happen when an object penetrates the skull. This is a penetrating injury.
The full article covers:
- What is traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
- What causes traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
- Who is at risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
- What are the symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
- How is traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosed?
- What are the treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
- Can traumatic brain injury (TBI) be prevented?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S06.9X0A to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S06.9X0AOverview
Is S06.9X0A a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified intracranial injury without loss of consciousness, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S06.9X0A mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for unspecified intracranial injury without loss of consciousness, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S06.9X0A group to?
When unspecified intracranial injury without loss of consciousness, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.9405 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S06.9X0A?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified intracranial injury without loss of consciousness, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 854.01 (brain injury NEC-no coma). 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.
