2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T70Effects of air pressure and water pressure

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T66-T78›T70

ICD-10-CM T70
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

T70 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for effects of air pressure and water pressure, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as T70.0XXA, T70.0XXD, T70.0XXS, and T70.1XXA.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T70
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Effects of air pressure and water pressure
Short Description
Effects of air pressure and water pressure
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
T66-T78
Other and unspecified effects of external causes

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT66-T78Other and unspecified effects of external causes
CategoryT70Effects of air pressure and water pressure
This CodeT70Effects of air pressure and water pressure

Specific Coding for Effects of air pressure and water pressureOverview

Non-specific codes like T70 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • T70.0 for Otitic barotrauma

  • T70.1 for Sinus barotrauma

  • T70.2 for Other and unspecified effects of high altitude

  • T70.20 for Unspecified effects of high altitude

  • T70.29 for Other effects of high altitude

  • T70.3 for Caisson disease [decompression sickness]

  • T70.4 for Effects of high-pressure fluids

  • T70.8 for Other effects of air pressure and water pressure

  • T70.9 for Effect of air pressure and water pressure, unspecified

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Effects of air pressure and water pressure (T70). 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 2027, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to T70: its own notes plus those printed at block T66-T78 and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

From Block T66-T78 Other and unspecified effects of external causes applies to 456 codes
  • if applicable, place of occurrence, such as:
  • highway rest stop (Y92.523)
  • school (private) (public) (state) as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.21-)
  • service areas as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.52-)
  • single-family non-institutional (private) house as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.01-)
  • transport vehicle as the place of occurrence of the external cause (Y92.81-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
  • The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

7th Character

Every code in the category takes a 7th character from the listed values, with the placeholder X filling any empty positions before it.

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T70
Values for category T70 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Patient EducationClinical

Barotrauma

Barotrauma means injury to your body because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure. One common type happens to your ear. A change in altitude may cause your ears to hurt. This can happen if you are flying in an airplane, driving in the mountains, or scuba diving.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About T70Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for effects of air pressure and water pressure?

T70 is the ICD-10-CM category for effects of air pressure and water pressure, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is T70 (Effects of air pressure and water pressure) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for effects of air pressure and water pressure, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for effects of air pressure and water pressure need a more specific code from this category, such as T70.0XXA, T70.0XXD, and T70.0XXS.