ICD-10 Code I69.81 – Cognitive Deficits Following Other Cerebrovascular Disease (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I69.81 – Cognitive deficits following other cerebrovascular disease
What it is
I69.81 identifies cognitive problems that remain after a cerebrovascular event other than the specific stroke categories already listed elsewhere. Use it for residual thinking or memory deficits linked to prior vascular brain injury.
Clinical signs
Findings may include memory loss, slowed thinking, poor attention, or impaired executive function after a documented cerebrovascular disease. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use this code when the record clearly links current cognitive deficits to a previous cerebrovascular disease and the condition is being followed as a sequela. Confirm that the provider documents the residual deficit, not just the old vascular event. If the chart only notes history of stroke without current cognitive impairment, this code is not appropriate.
Do not use for
Do not use it for acute stroke, transient ischemic attack, or unspecified neurologic symptoms without a documented cognitive sequela. Check documentation if the deficit is due to dementia, delirium, or another nonvascular cause.
Coding tip
Link the residual cognitive problem to the prior cerebrovascular disease and sequence the sequela correctly.