G31.2
BillableDegeneration of nervous system due to alcohol
HCC Category Mapping
RxHCCHCC 112 — Dementia and Other Specified Brain Disorders
0.000What This Code Means
Permanent damage to the nervous system caused by chronic alcohol consumption, resulting in cognitive and neurological impairment.
Coding Tips
- •Ensure alcohol use disorder is also coded separately (F10.x codes) to capture the complete clinical picture
- •Document the timeline and severity of alcohol use to support medical necessity
Clinical Significance
Degeneration of the nervous system due to alcohol captures permanent neurological damage from chronic alcohol use, which is distinct from acute intoxication effects. This condition reflects a serious long-term consequence of substance use disorder that requires ongoing neurological management and substance use treatment. It represents significant comorbidity in the patient's overall health profile.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of chronic alcohol use or alcohol use disorder as the cause of nervous system degeneration
- ✓Neurological examination findings showing cognitive or motor deficits attributed to alcohol
- ✓Neuroimaging showing alcohol-related brain changes (cerebellar atrophy, cortical atrophy)
- ✓Duration and severity of alcohol use history
- ✓Confirmation that the neurological damage is permanent/chronic rather than acute intoxication
- ✓Associated alcohol use disorder code (F10.x) should be documented
Code Also
- associated alcoholism (F10.-)
Commonly Confused Codes
F10.27 — Alcohol dependence with alcohol-induced persisting dementia; use when dementia criteria are met in active dependenceF10.97 — Alcohol use, unspecified with alcohol-induced persisting dementia; different code family for alcohol-related dementiaG31.1 — Senile degeneration of brain; age-related rather than alcohol-relatedG31.9 — Degenerative disease of nervous system, unspecified; does not capture the alcohol etiologyG62.1 — Alcoholic polyneuropathy; peripheral nerve damage from alcohol, not central nervous system
Code Hierarchy
└G31Other degenerative diseases of nervous system, not elsewhere classified└G31.2Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol
└G31.2Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol