Effects of air pressure and water pressure (T70) ICD-10-CM
The T70 code range covers effects of air pressure and water pressure with 34 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 24 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2027, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T70
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Codes in the T70 Range 34 codes · 24 billable
- T70 Effects of air pressure and water pressureNon-billable
- T70.0 Otitic barotraumaNon-billable
- T70.0XXA Otitic barotrauma, initial encounter
- T70.0XXD Otitic barotrauma, subsequent encounter
- T70.0XXS Otitic barotrauma, sequela
- T70.1 Sinus barotraumaNon-billable
- T70.1XXA Sinus barotrauma, initial encounter
- T70.1XXD Sinus barotrauma, subsequent encounter
- T70.1XXS Sinus barotrauma, sequela
- T70.2 Other and unspecified effects of high altitudeNon-billable
- T70.20 Unspecified effects of high altitudeNon-billable
- T70.20XA Unspecified effects of high altitude, initial encounter
- T70.20XD Unspecified effects of high altitude, subsequent encounter
- T70.20XS Unspecified effects of high altitude, sequela
- T70.29 Other effects of high altitudeNon-billable
- T70.29XA Other effects of high altitude, initial encounter
- T70.29XD Other effects of high altitude, subsequent encounter
- T70.29XS Other effects of high altitude, sequela
- T70.3 Caisson disease [decompression sickness]Non-billable
- T70.3XXA Caisson disease [decompression sickness], initial encounter
- T70.3XXD Caisson disease [decompression sickness], subsequent encounter
- T70.3XXS Caisson disease [decompression sickness], sequela
- T70.4 Effects of high-pressure fluidsNon-billable
- T70.4XXA Effects of high-pressure fluids, initial encounter
- T70.4XXD Effects of high-pressure fluids, subsequent encounter
- T70.4XXS Effects of high-pressure fluids, sequela
- T70.8 Other effects of air pressure and water pressureNon-billable
- T70.8XXA Other effects of air pressure and water pressure, initial encounter
- T70.8XXD Other effects of air pressure and water pressure, subsequent encounter
- T70.8XXS Other effects of air pressure and water pressure, sequela
- T70.9 Effect of air pressure and water pressure, unspecifiedNon-billable
- T70.9XXA Effect of air pressure and water pressure, unspecified, initial encounter
- T70.9XXD Effect of air pressure and water pressure, unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T70.9XXS Effect of air pressure and water pressure, unspecified, sequela
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the T70 range.
Barotrauma
Injury following pressure changes; includes injury to the eustachian tube, ear drum, lung and stomach.
Decompression Sickness
A condition occurring as a result of exposure to a rapid fall in ambient pressure. Gases, nitrogen in particular, come out of solution and form bubbles in body fluid and blood. These gas bubbles accumulate in joint spaces and the peripheral circulation impairing tissue oxygenation causing disorientation, severe pain, and potentially death.
About the T70 Code Range
Air and water pressure can affect the ears and sinuses or cause effects associated with high altitude, decompression, or high-pressure fluids.
T70.0 identifies ear barotrauma, while T70.1 identifies sinus barotrauma. High-altitude effects split into unspecified effects and other effects. The remaining subdivisions identify caisson disease, also called decompression sickness; effects of high-pressure fluids; other pressure effects; and unspecified pressure effects.
Each subdivision has a seventh character for an initial encounter (A), subsequent encounter (D), or sequela (S).
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the T70 range?
Of the 34 codes in this range, 24 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the T70 range classify?
The range classifies effects of air pressure and water pressure. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
