2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T26.70XACorrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T26-T28›T26

ICD-10-CM T26.70XA
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

T26.70XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for corrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, 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 124 through 125. The code is flagged as an unspecified code, since codes identifying laterality exist in the same family. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Burn and corrosion, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T26.70XA
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Corrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, initial encounter
Short Description
Corrosion w resulting rupture and dest of unsp eyeball, init
Parent Code
T26.70
Corrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT26-T28Burns and corrosions confined to eye and internal organs
CategoryT26Burn and corrosion confined to eye and adnexa
This CodeT26.70XACorrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, initial encounter

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for T26.70XA.

Unspecified codes
Unspecified codes exist in the ICD-10-CM classification for circumstances when documentation in the medical record does not provide the level of detail needed to support reporting a more specific code. However, in the inpatient setting, there should generally be very limited and rare circumstances for which the laterality (right, left, bilateral) of a condition is unable to be documented and reported. The following pages contain the list of unspecified ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for which there is a more specific code to identify laterality (right, left, bilateral) within that code family.

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The ICD-10-CM makes a distinction between burns and corrosions. The burn codes are for thermal burns, except sunburns, that come from a heat source, such as a fire or hot appliance. The burn codes are also for burns resulting from electricity and radiation. Corrosions are burns due to chemicals. The guidelines are the same for burns and corrosions.

Sequence first the code that reflects the highest degree of burn when more than one burn is present.

  • When the reason for the admission or encounter is for treatment of external multiple burns, sequence first the code that reflects the burn of the highest degree.
  • When a patient has both internal and external burns, the circumstances of admission govern the selection of the principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
  • When a patient is admitted for burn injuries and other related conditions such as smoke inhalation and/or respiratory failure, the circumstances of admission govern the selection of the principal or first-listed diagnosis.

Burns of the eye and internal organs (T26-T28) are classified by site, but not by degree.

Classify burns of the same local site (three-character category level, T20-T28) but of different degrees to the subcategory identifying the highest degree recorded in the diagnosis.

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Burn and corrosion confined to eye and adnexa (T26). 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.

CCSR INJ019
Burn and corrosion, initial encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Burns

A burn is damage to your body's tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or radiation. Scalds from hot liquids and steam, building fires and flammable liquids and gases are the most common causes of burns. Another kind is an inhalation injury, caused by breathing smoke.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert T26.70XA to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
940.5 Burn w eyeball destruct
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 T26.70XAOverview

Is T26.70XA a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report corrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What does the 7th character A in T26.70XA mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for corrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does T26.70XA group to?

When corrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 124, 125, with relative weights from 0.7678 to 1.3231 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of T26.70XA?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, corrosion with resulting rupture and destruction of unspecified eyeball, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 940.5 (burn w eyeball destruct). 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.