ICD-10 Code I69.993 – Ataxia following unspecified cerebrovascular disease (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I69.993 – Ataxia following unspecified cerebrovascular disease
What it is
This code identifies ataxia that remains after an unspecified cerebrovascular disease, such as a stroke or other brain vascular event. It means the coordination problem is a late effect of prior cerebrovascular injury.
Clinical signs
Ataxia may present as unsteady gait, poor balance, clumsy limb movements, or difficulty with coordinated tasks. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation for the specific neurologic findings and history of prior cerebrovascular disease.
When to use this code
Use I69.993 when the record clearly links current ataxia to a previous cerebrovascular disease and the residual is being addressed. Code it for ongoing coordination deficits after the acute event has passed, not for a new stroke presentation. Confirm the cerebrovascular cause is documented as unspecified if no more specific residual code applies.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for ataxia from nonvascular causes, such as intoxication, medication effects, or hereditary neurologic disease. Check documentation if the record describes acute stroke symptoms without a documented residual deficit.
Coding tip
Look for wording such as “residual,” “late effect,” or “due to prior CVA” before assigning this code.