ICD-10 Code I63.211 – Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of right vertebral artery (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I63.211 – Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of right vertebral artery
What it is
This code identifies an ischemic stroke caused by reduced or blocked blood flow in the right vertebral artery, with the exact cause recorded as unspecified. Use it when documentation links the infarction to the right vertebral artery.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Vertebrobasilar stroke may present with dizziness, imbalance, gait problems, visual disturbance, or other focal neurologic deficits consistent with cerebral infarction.
When to use this code
Use I63.211 when the record states cerebral infarction due to occlusion or stenosis of the right vertebral artery and does not specify whether the blockage is embolic, thrombotic, or another named cause. You should also use it when imaging or provider assessment supports the right vertebral artery as the source.
If laterality is documented as right and the artery is vertebral, this code is the specific match. Check documentation if the note instead describes transient ischemia, hemorrhage, or a different vascular territory.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for vertebral artery disease without infarction, TIA, or strokes tied to a different artery. Check documentation if the provider has identified a more specific occlusion type or another cerebrovascular diagnosis.
Coding tip
Confirm both the infarction and the right vertebral artery source in the provider note before assigning I63.211.