H81.90

What This Code Means

This code describes a balance or inner ear disorder affecting the vestibular system (the part of the inner ear that controls balance and spatial orientation) when the specific type of disorder and which ear is affected cannot be determined. Patients may experience dizziness, vertigo, or difficulty with balance and coordination.

Coding Tips

• •Use this code only when the specific vestibular disorder cannot be identified or documented; if the type of disorder is known (such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or vestibular neuritis), use the more specific code instead
• •If documentation specifies which ear is affected, use the laterality-specific codes (H81.91 for right ear or H81.92 for left ear) rather than the unspecified code