Dizziness and giddiness
In Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior (R40-R46), chapter 18: Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings
- R42 is billable and valid on claims for FY 2027. If the record has more detail, check the other codes under R40-R46 below.
- As a secondary diagnosis it is not a CC or MCC, so it doesn't raise the MS-DRG payment.
- Doesn't count toward a Medicare Advantage risk score (no HCC in V28).
- AHRQ's Chronic Condition Indicator classes it as not chronic (an acute or short-term condition).
Also indexed as: Disturbance, equilibrium; Dizziness; Dysequilibrium; Giddiness; Light, headedness; Swimming in the head; Syndrome, Mal de Debarquement; Vertigo
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Instructional notes
Also applies, from Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior (R40-R46)
These notes sit on R40-R46 and apply to every code under it, including R42.
Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable
- symptoms and signs constituting part of a pattern of mental disorder (F01-F99)
Official coding guidelines
From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.
Covers when to report symptom, sign, and abnormal finding codes (R00-R99), plus specific rules for falls, coma scales, non-infectious SIRS, death NOS, and NIHSS scores.
- Use of symptom codes (page 75)
- Use of a symptom code with a definitive diagnosis code (page 75)
- Combination codes that include symptoms (page 75)
- Repeated falls (page 76)
- Coma (page 76)
- Functional quadriplegia (page 76)
- SIRS due to Non-Infectious Process (page 77)
- Death NOS (page 77)
Other codes under R40-R46
Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior (R40-R46)
- R40Somnolence, stupor and coma
- R41Other symptoms and signs involving cognitive functions and awareness
- R42Dizziness and giddiness(this code)
- R43Disturbances of smell and taste
- R44Other symptoms and signs involving general sensations and perceptions
- R45Symptoms and signs involving emotional state
- R46Symptoms and signs involving appearance and behavior
Related conditions
Grouped by AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR), which sorts every diagnosis code into clinically meaningful categories.
R42 is in General sensation/perception signs and symptoms (SYM015, its default category), with 13 codes. Others in it:
- H57.8A1 Foreign body sensation, right eye
- H57.8A2 Foreign body sensation, left eye
- H57.8A3 Foreign body sensation, bilateral eyes
- H57.8A9 Foreign body sensation, unspecified eye
- R09.A0 Foreign body sensation, unspecified
- R09.A9 Foreign body sensation, other site
- R44.0 Auditory hallucinations
- R44.1 Visual hallucinations
Medicare coverage articles listing R42
These 18 Medicare billing and coding articles list R42 as a diagnosis that supports medical necessity for the services they cover. From the CMS Medicare Coverage Database; check your own contractor's article before billing.
- Temporary Nontherapeutic Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring Devices (3 contractors)
- Ambulatory Electrocardiograph (AECG) Monitoring (2 contractors)
- Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) (2 contractors)
- Non-Invasive Vascular Studies (2 contractors)
- CT of the Head
- Electrocardiograms
- Electrocardiographic (EKG or ECG) Monitoring (Holter or Real-Time Monitoring)
- Home Health Occupational Therapy
- Home Health Physical Therapy
- MRI and CT Scans of the Head and Neck
And 8 more.
Other codes that refer to R42
Notes on these codes point to R42.
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Dizziness and Vertigo
Dizziness and vertigo are not the same thing, but they are often mixed up. These feelings may get worse when you walk, stand up, or move your head, and they can make you lose your balance. You may also have nausea, vomiting, sweating, trouble walking, or ringing in your ears.
Read more about dizziness and vertigo on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Legacy crosswalk from the CMS General Equivalence Mappings (last updated 2018).
- 780.4 Dizziness and giddiness