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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

I65.02Occlusion and stenosis of left vertebral artery

✓ Billable / specific

I65.02 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for occlusion and stenosis of left vertebral artery. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About I65.02

I65.02 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for occlusion and stenosis of left vertebral artery. It belongs to category I65 (occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, not resulting in cerebral infarction), block I60-I69 (cerebrovascular diseases) and chapter 9 (diseases of the circulatory system). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within I65.0 (occlusion and stenosis of vertebral artery), I65.02 is specifically for occlusion and stenosis of left vertebral artery. Related codes cover right vertebral artery (I65.01), bilateral vertebral arteries (I65.03) and unspecified vertebral artery (I65.09).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 061 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent with MCC, relative weight 2.7211), DRG 062 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent with CC, relative weight 1.7781), DRG 063 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent without CC/MCC, relative weight 1.455), DRG 067 (Precerebral Occlusion without Infarction with MCC, relative weight 1.4274) and DRG 068 (Precerebral Occlusion without Infarction without MCC, relative weight 0.9013), in MDC 01 (Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 433.20 (occlusion and stenosis of vertebral artery without mention of cerebral infarction).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to I65.02.

› From I65 Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, not resulting in cerebral infarction
Includes
  • embolism of precerebral artery
  • narrowing of precerebral artery
  • obstruction (complete) (partial) of precerebral artery
  • thrombosis of precerebral artery
Excludes1
  • insufficiency, NOS, of precerebral artery (G45.-)
  • insufficiency of precerebral arteries causing cerebral infarction (I63.0-I63.2)

Broader instructions also apply from I60-I69 Cerebrovascular diseases and Chapter 9: Diseases of the circulatory system.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 433.20Occlusion and stenosis of vertebral artery without mention of cerebral infarctionapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about I65.02

Is I65.02 billable?

Yes. I65.02 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can I65.02 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict I65.02 as a principal diagnosis.

Is I65.02 a CC or MCC?

No. I65.02 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does I65.02 group to?

I65.02 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 061 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent with MCC), MS-DRG 062 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent with CC), MS-DRG 063 (Ischemic Stroke, Precerebral Occlusion or Transient Ischemia with Thrombolytic Agent without CC/MCC), MS-DRG 067 (Precerebral Occlusion without Infarction with MCC) and MS-DRG 068 (Precerebral Occlusion without Infarction without MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for I65.02?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map I65.02 to ICD-9-CM 433.20.