ICD-10 Code F01.C – Vascular dementia, severe (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F01.C – Vascular dementia, severe
What it is
F01.C identifies severe vascular dementia, a major neurocognitive disorder caused by cerebrovascular disease. Use it when documentation shows advanced cognitive decline from vascular injury, with substantial loss of independent function.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Severe cases usually include marked memory and thinking impairment, poor judgment, and dependence for most daily activities, with findings consistent with vascular brain injury.
When to use this code
Use F01.C when the provider documents vascular dementia as severe or equivalent wording such as advanced, profound, or major impairment due to vascular causes. It is appropriate when the record supports a severe stage and not a mixed or unspecified dementia. Check documentation if the severity is unclear.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for dementia without a vascular cause, or when the record only states mild, moderate, or unspecified severity. If the diagnosis is mixed, unspecified, or not confirmed, choose the documented code instead.
Coding tip
Code the highest documented severity only when the provider clearly links the dementia to vascular disease.