Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) codes sit in ICD-10-CM category I82, and three facts decide which one you report: acute or chronic, the vein the imaging names, and the side. Acute leg DVT starts with I82.4-, chronic with I82.5-, and a resolved clot moves to Z86.718.
DVT ICD-10 claims that bounce tend to fail in one of three spots. Somebody puts a header code like I82.40 on the claim. A coder picks the unspecified side when the duplex report names it. Or the provider documents a resolved clot, and the claim still carries an active code.
We checked each code in this guide against the FY2027 ICD-10-CM code set, which covers dates of service from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. If you’re billing DVT this year, that’s the set your payer reads. Four rules carry most of the weight:
- Acute leg DVT: I82.4-, with the vein and side filled in
- Chronic leg DVT: I82.5-, only when the provider documents it as chronic
- Resolved DVT: Z86.718, plus Z79.01 if long-term anticoagulants continue
- Header codes such as I82.40: not billable on any claim
What Is the ICD-10 Code for DVT?
The ICD-10 code for DVT depends on acuity, vein, and side, so no single code covers it. You code acute leg DVT from I82.4-. Chronic DVT uses I82.5-, deep arm veins use I82.62- or I82.72-, and a resolved clot takes Z86.718, personal history of other venous thrombosis and embolism.
You can still code a note that says only “DVT of the leg.” The Tabular List places “DVT NOS” under I82.40, the acute group for unspecified deep veins, so unqualified DVT reads as acute. With no side documented, you land on I82.409. A quick provider query fixes that in most cases.
The CDC states on its ICD-10-CM files page that FY2027 codes apply to services from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. Each DVT ICD-10 code in this guide validates in that set, so you can use the tables below for this year’s claims.
Key ICD-10 Categories for DVT
| Situation | Code family | Billable example (FY2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Acute DVT, lower extremity | I82.4- | I82.411, acute DVT of right femoral vein |
| Chronic DVT, lower extremity | I82.5- | I82.512, chronic DVT of left femoral vein |
| Acute DVT, deep veins of arm | I82.62- | I82.621, right upper extremity |
| Chronic DVT, deep veins of arm | I82.72- | I82.722, left upper extremity |
| Axillary, subclavian, or internal jugular vein | I82.A-, I82.B-, I82.C- | I82.A11, acute DVT of right axillary vein |
| Resolved DVT (history) | Z86.718 | Z86.718 |
| Long-term anticoagulant use (add-on) | Z79.01 | Z79.01 |
All seven example codes are billable for FY2027. Parent codes such as I82.4, I82.40, and I82.62 aren’t, and a claim that carries one of them won’t make it past most clearinghouse edits.
How the I82 Category Builds a DVT Code
You build a DVT code one character at a time. The fourth character sets acuity and region, the fifth names the vein, and the sixth sets the side: 1 for right, 2 for left, 3 for bilateral, and 9 for unspecified. Leave off a required character, and the code is invalid.
| Character | What it tells the payer | Values for leg DVT |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth | Acuity | 4 acute, 5 chronic |
| Fifth | Vein | 0 unspecified deep veins, 1 femoral, 2 iliac, 3 popliteal, 4 tibial, 5 peroneal, 6 calf muscular, 9 other specified, Y proximal with no vein named, Z distal with no vein named |
| Sixth | Side | 1 right, 2 left, 3 bilateral, 9 unspecified |
The FY2027 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines tell you to find the term in the Alphabetic Index first, then confirm the code in the Tabular List (Sections I.B.1 and I.B.2). You settle laterality in the Tabular, so a code copied straight from the Index often comes up a character short.
Billable Codes vs Header Codes
I82.4, I82.40, and I82.41 are header codes. None of them is billable, because each one has more specific codes underneath it. A claim carrying a header code tends to reject at the clearinghouse or come back as a CO-16 denial for missing or invalid information.
The usual culprit is the EHR problem list. A provider clicks the parent row, I82.40, because it reads like plain “DVT,” and that code rides along to each visit until someone fixes the list. Clean it once at the source, and those rejections stop landing in your work queue.
I82.409 and the Unspecified Side Rule
I82.409 is the billable ICD-10 code for DVT unspecified by vein and side. Section I.B.13 of the guidelines tells you to save unspecified sides for records that can’t identify one. You can take laterality from other clinicians’ documentation, and the duplex report counts, so read it before you settle for a 9.
Conflicting notes need a different fix. If the provider’s note says left and the radiology report says right, don’t pick one yourself. Section I.B.13 tells you to query the attending provider when laterality conflicts, and that query costs far less than a denied claim sitting in AR.
Header codes and missing sides trace back to the workflow, which means you can catch them before the claim leaves your system. Through our medical billing services, our coders build those checks into claim scrubbing, so your DVT claims reach the payer complete.
Acute DVT ICD-10 Codes for the Lower Extremity (I82.4-)
You code acute leg DVT from I82.4-. Start with the vein the imaging report names, then add the side. I82.432, for example, is acute DVT of the left popliteal vein, and I82.443 covers both tibial veins. Find the vein’s row below and read across.
| Vein | Right | Left | Bilateral | Unspecified side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unspecified deep veins | I82.401 | I82.402 | I82.403 | I82.409 |
| Femoral | I82.411 | I82.412 | I82.413 | I82.419 |
| Iliac | I82.421 | I82.422 | I82.423 | I82.429 |
| Popliteal | I82.431 | I82.432 | I82.433 | I82.439 |
| Tibial | I82.441 | I82.442 | I82.443 | I82.449 |
| Peroneal | I82.451 | I82.452 | I82.453 | I82.459 |
| Calf muscular | I82.461 | I82.462 | I82.463 | I82.469 |
| Other specified deep vein | I82.491 | I82.492 | I82.493 | I82.499 |
| Proximal, vein not named | I82.4Y1 | I82.4Y2 | I82.4Y3 | I82.4Y9 |
| Distal, vein not named | I82.4Z1 | I82.4Z2 | I82.4Z3 | I82.4Z9 |
Proximal vs Distal DVT: Turning Ultrasound Language Into a Code
Radiologists sort leg DVT into two types. Proximal DVT sits in the popliteal vein or higher, which takes in the femoral and iliac veins. Distal DVT sits below the knee, in the tibial, peroneal, or calf muscular veins. Proximal clots carry the higher risk of reaching the lungs.
A named vein beats the proximal or distal label. Use I82.4Y- only when the report says “proximal” or “thigh” without naming a vein, and I82.4Z- only when it says “distal” or “calf” with no vein named. A report that reads “left peroneal vein thrombosis” goes straight to I82.452.
Bilateral DVT Coding
For bilateral DVT, use 3 as the sixth character only when the same vein has a clot on both sides, as in I82.413. Clots in different veins on each leg take two codes, such as I82.411 plus I82.432, since Section I.B.13 calls for separate codes when no bilateral code fits.
A complete bilateral study gives you the documentation to code both legs with confidence. For the procedure side of that visit, our guide to CPT 93970 bilateral duplex billing walks through scope and modifier rules.
Coding a Note That Only Says “DVT”
Unqualified “DVT” defaults to the acute I82.40- group, so a bare diagnosis still points you to I82.4-. If the duplex report names the vein and the provider’s note doesn’t, you can lift laterality from the report under the guidelines. For the vein, follow your query policy instead of guessing.
Chronic DVT ICD-10 Codes (I82.5-)
You code chronic leg DVT from I82.5-, and it mirrors the acute grid vein for vein. I82.511 is chronic DVT of the right femoral vein, and I82.5Z2 covers the left distal leg when no vein is named. Reach for these codes only when the provider calls the clot chronic.
ICD-10-CM doesn’t define chronic DVT by a number of weeks. You take chronicity from the provider’s words, such as “chronic,” “old,” or “residual thrombus.” If the note describes a clot that’s been there for months but doesn’t call it chronic, send a query instead of relabeling it yourself.
Chronic Codes You’ll See Most
- I82.501, I82.502, I82.503, I82.509: unspecified deep veins (right, left, bilateral, side not documented)
- I82.511 and I82.512: right and left femoral vein
- I82.531 and I82.532: right and left popliteal vein
- I82.5Y-: proximal leg with no vein named
- I82.5Z-: distal leg with no vein named
Two Tabular notes on I82.5- affect what else goes on the claim. A “use additional code” note tells you to add Z79.01 when long-term anticoagulants apply. An Excludes1 note bars Z86.718, so the chronic and history codes can’t share a claim. You can confirm both in the CMS FY2027 code files.
A chronic clot and the damage it leaves behind are separate diagnoses. Swelling, aching, or skin changes from an old DVT point to postthrombotic syndrome, which has its own codes in I87.0-. Report it once the provider names it, and report it alongside chronic DVT when the chart documents both.
Right Leg, Left Leg, and Bilateral DVT ICD-10 Codes
The ICD-10 code for acute DVT of the right leg, with no vein named, is I82.401. Use I82.402 for the left leg and I82.403 for both legs. Chronic versions are I82.501, I82.502, and I82.503. On charts, RLE, LLE, and BLE stand for right, left, and bilateral lower extremity.
| Side | Acute, vein not named | Chronic, vein not named | Acute distal (calf) | Chronic distal (calf) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right leg (RLE) | I82.401 | I82.501 | I82.4Z1 | I82.5Z1 |
| Left leg (LLE) | I82.402 | I82.502 | I82.4Z2 | I82.5Z2 |
| Both legs (BLE) | I82.403 | I82.503 | I82.4Z3 | I82.5Z3 |
| Side not documented | I82.409 | I82.509 | I82.4Z9 | I82.5Z9 |
A named vein moves you off these rows. An RLE DVT note that names the femoral vein takes I82.411, and an LLE DVT note naming the tibial vein takes I82.442. A unilateral study records the side, and our guide to CPT 93971 unilateral duplex billing covers what that report needs.
History of DVT ICD-10: When Z86.718 Is the Right Code
The ICD-10 code for a history of DVT is Z86.718, personal history of other venous thrombosis and embolism. Use it once the clot no longer exists. Its parent, Z86.71, is a header and isn’t billable. A history of pulmonary embolism takes its own code, Z86.711, and you report both when the patient had both clots.
Charts write it as “hx of DVT,” “history of DVT,” or “personal history of DVT,” and each version leads to Z86.718. Section I.C.21 of the guidelines describes personal history codes as conditions that no longer exist but could come back, which is the situation a resolved clot leaves you in.
Picture a patient seen two years after a femoral DVT, off anticoagulants, with a clean follow-up duplex. That visit takes Z86.718. An I82 code would describe a clot the patient no longer has, and auditors look for that mismatch because it inflates risk adjustment scores.
History of DVT on Long-Term Anticoagulants
Some patients stay on a blood thinner after the clot resolves, to keep another one from forming. Report Z86.718 with Z79.01 for those visits. The Excludes1 note on I82.5- blocks pairing history with chronic, so the history code carries the diagnosis.
Z79.01 tells the payer the patient takes an anticoagulant long term, whatever the reason. Cardiology offices report it all day for atrial fibrillation, and our guide to AFib coding and Z79.01 covers that side of the same status code.
Z86.718 vs I82.5-: Side by Side
| Chart says | Clot status | Code(s) |
|---|---|---|
| “Hx DVT, resolved, off anticoagulation” | Gone | Z86.718 |
| “Hx DVT, lifelong apixaban for prevention” | Gone | Z86.718 + Z79.01 |
| “Chronic left femoral DVT, residual clot, on warfarin” | Present, chronic | I82.512 + Z79.01 |
| “Hx of thrombophlebitis” | Gone | Z86.72 |
Acute, Chronic, or History: A Three-Question Decision Path
Three questions settle a lower extremity DVT code. Is the clot still present? Does the provider call it chronic? And which vein and side does the imaging name? Answer them in that order, and the code family, the fifth character, and the sixth character fall into place.
- Check whether a clot exists now. If it doesn’t, report Z86.718, plus Z79.01 if long-term anticoagulants continue.
- Look for “chronic,” “old,” or “residual” in the note. If the provider uses those words, report I82.5-; if not, report I82.4-, because unqualified DVT defaults to acute.
- Pick the vein and side for the fifth and sixth characters. Query the provider if the note and the imaging report disagree.
| Documentation | Code(s) | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New right femoral DVT on duplex | I82.411 | Clot present, not called chronic, vein and side named |
| Follow-up, left popliteal DVT still on repeat duplex, continuing apixaban | I82.432 + Z79.01 | Clot present, ongoing anticoagulant therapy |
| Chronic right femoral DVT, residual thrombus, on warfarin | I82.511 + Z79.01 | Provider documents chronic |
| Hx DVT in 2023, resolved, no medication | Z86.718 | Clot gone, no treatment |
| “DVT” only, no side or vein | I82.409, then query | Acute default with an unspecified side |
Add Z79.01 once the provider documents ongoing anticoagulant therapy, and DVT treatment runs at least three months in most cases. Skip it for a single dose or a short inpatient course. Section I.C.21 tells you not to assign Z79 codes for medication given for a short time to treat an acute illness.
Want to see how often your charts land on I82.409 or the wrong acuity? In a medical billing audit, we pull your recent DVT claims and show you where specificity slips. The coding team at One O Seven RCM runs that review for practices in all 50 states.
DVT Prophylaxis ICD-10: Why There’s No Single Code
There’s no ICD-10 code for DVT prophylaxis by itself. You code the reason the patient needs prevention, plus the long-term drug status when it applies: Z79.01 for anticoagulants or Z79.02 for antithrombotics and antiplatelets. Compression stockings and other mechanical prophylaxis don’t carry a diagnosis code of their own.
Length of therapy decides whether Z79.01 belongs on the claim. Heparin or enoxaparin during a hospital stay after surgery is a short course, so it doesn’t support Z79.01. A patient discharged on months of apixaban after a prior clot does. The discharge medication list tells you which one you’re looking at.
Section I.C.21 of the guidelines uses DVT prevention as its own example of long-term prophylactic drug use, so you’re on solid ground with Z79.01 for that second patient. Some notes shorten prophylaxis to “DVT ppx,” and the coding logic stays the same.
Coding the Reason Behind Long-Term Prophylaxis
Z79.01 explains the medication, and the claim still needs a code for why the patient takes it. These are the reason codes you’ll pair with it most:
- Prior clot that has resolved: Z86.718, the history of DVT ICD-10 code
- Prior pulmonary embolism: Z86.711
- Activated protein C resistance (factor V Leiden): D68.51
- Prothrombin gene mutation: D68.52, or D68.59 for other primary thrombophilia
INR checks and other drug level visits start with Z51.81, encounter for therapeutic drug level monitoring. Pair it with Z79.01. The Tabular “code also” note leaves the order to you, and a reason code like Z86.718 shows the payer why your patient stays on the drug.
Rule Out, Possible, and Screening DVT: What to Code Instead
In an outpatient or office setting, you don’t code “rule out,” “possible,” or “suspected” DVT. You code the signs and symptoms that sent the patient for imaging, such as R22.42 for localized swelling of the left lower limb. Inpatient stays follow a different rule.
Outpatient and Office Visits
Section IV.H of the guidelines bars outpatient coders from reporting uncertain diagnoses, so a rule out DVT ICD-10 code isn’t an option in the office. A negative duplex doesn’t change that. The symptom codes still tell the payer why the provider ordered the study.
| Documented finding | Right | Left | Bilateral or side not specified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Localized swelling of lower limb | R22.41 | R22.42 | R22.43 (bilateral) |
| Pain in leg | M79.604 | M79.605 | Code each side |
| Pain in lower leg | M79.661 | M79.662 | Code each side |
| Localized edema | R60.0 | R60.0 | R60.0 |
Inpatient Admissions
Inpatient coding works the other way. Under Sections II.H and III.C, you code a “probable” or “suspected” DVT still in the discharge note as if it existed. That rule covers short-term, acute care, long-term care, and psychiatric hospitals. If the provider rules out DVT before discharge, you code the symptoms instead.
Elevated D-Dimer and Screening Visits
The ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index has no entry for D-dimer, so no official code names it. Coders tend to report R79.89, other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry, or R79.1, abnormal coagulation profile. Pick one in a written policy and stick with it. Put the presenting symptom on the claim too, because it explains the order.
A screening visit for a patient with no symptoms uses Z13.6, encounter for screening for cardiovascular disorders. Medicare’s venous ultrasound policy doesn’t treat routine screening as reasonable and necessary. Z03.89 fits only when the patient has no symptoms and the provider rules the condition out, which is rare in a DVT workup.
Upper Extremity DVT ICD-10 Codes (I82.62-, I82.72-, I82.A to I82.C)
You code acute DVT of the deep arm veins, meaning the brachial, radial, or ulnar veins, with I82.62-, and chronic DVT with I82.72-. The axillary, subclavian, and internal jugular veins have their own subcategories: I82.A-, I82.B-, and I82.C-. I82.61- and I82.71- cover superficial arm veins.
| Vein | Acute: right, left, bilateral, unspecified | Chronic: right, left, bilateral, unspecified |
|---|---|---|
| Deep veins of arm (brachial, radial, ulnar) | I82.621, I82.622, I82.623, I82.629 | I82.721, I82.722, I82.723, I82.729 |
| Axillary | I82.A11, I82.A12, I82.A13, I82.A19 | I82.A21, I82.A22, I82.A23, I82.A29 |
| Subclavian | I82.B11, I82.B12, I82.B13, I82.B19 | I82.B21, I82.B22, I82.B23, I82.B29 |
| Internal jugular | I82.C11, I82.C12, I82.C13, I82.C19 | I82.C21, I82.C22, I82.C23, I82.C29 |
Chart shorthand works the same way it does for legs. An RUE DVT in the brachial vein takes I82.621, and an LUE DVT in the subclavian vein takes I82.B12.
Superficial vs Deep Arm Veins
I82.6- and I82.7- hold superficial and deep veins under one category, which trips up coders who stop reading at the category title. Superficial arm clots go to I82.61- or I82.71-. I82.60- and I82.70- cover arm veins that aren’t specified, and you shouldn’t need them once imaging names the vessel.
The chronic arm codes carry the same two Tabular notes as chronic leg DVT. I82.7- tells you to add Z79.01 for long-term anticoagulant use, and its Excludes1 note keeps Z86.718 off the same claim.
Catheter-Related Thrombosis
If the provider documents that a central line or another vascular device caused the clot, report T82.868A, thrombosis due to vascular prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, initial encounter. Add the I82 code that names the vein, since the T code doesn’t. Guideline I.B.16 requires the provider to state that link before you code a complication.
DVT With PE, Pregnancy, Surgery, and Postthrombotic Syndrome
The CDC’s VTE overview defines venous thromboembolism as DVT plus pulmonary embolism. In its VTE data and statistics, the CDC estimates that VTE affects up to 900,000 people in the US each year and kills 60,000 to 100,000. Payers and auditors watch these combined claims for that reason.
Coding DVT With Pulmonary Embolism
Code both. Category I82 carries an Excludes2 note for pulmonary embolism (I26.-), which means you can report the DVT ICD-10 code and the PE code on the same claim. I26.99 is other pulmonary embolism without acute cor pulmonale, and I26.09 is the same with acute cor pulmonale.
I26.93 covers a single subsegmental thrombotic embolism without acute cor pulmonale. On an inpatient claim, the principal diagnosis follows the condition that drove the admission. Once the PE resolves and treatment ends, you move it to history with Z86.711.
DVT in Pregnancy and After Delivery
Category I82 carries a “code first” note for pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium. You code antepartum DVT with O22.3- by trimester, from O22.30 to O22.33, then add the I82 code that identifies the clot, as the O22.3 “use additional code” note directs.
Postpartum DVT takes O87.1 plus the I82 code for the vein. Add a Z3A code for weeks of gestation when the record gives it. A left femoral DVT in the second trimester, for example, codes to O22.32 plus I82.412.
DVT After Surgery: Complication or Not?
A DVT that shows up after surgery isn’t a complication by default. Guideline I.B.16 requires the provider to document the link between the procedure and the clot. Once the provider documents it, report T81.72XA, complication of vein following a procedure, initial encounter, plus the I82 code for the vein.
Hospitals carry extra exposure here. CMS puts DVT and PE after total knee or hip replacement on its hospital-acquired conditions list, and a “No” present on admission indicator keeps the condition from raising the MS-DRG payment. Our hospital revenue cycle management team checks POA indicators before those claims drop.
Postthrombotic Syndrome (Postphlebitic Syndrome)
I87.0, postthrombotic syndrome, is a header, so you need a complication and a side before you can bill it. The Tabular lists “postphlebitic syndrome” under I87.0 as the same condition. You can report it with a chronic DVT code when the provider documents both.
- I87.001 to I87.009: without complications
- I87.011 to I87.019: with ulcer, plus an L97 code for the ulcer’s site and severity
- I87.021 to I87.029: with inflammation
- I87.031 to I87.039: with ulcer and inflammation
- I87.091 to I87.099: with other complications
Conditions Mistaken for DVT and the Codes They Need
Superficial thrombophlebitis, superficial vein thrombosis, Baker’s cyst, cellulitis, lymphedema, and venous insufficiency can all look like DVT at the bedside. If the duplex comes back negative and the provider names one of these instead, the claim carries that condition’s code and no I82 code.
| Look-alike condition | Right | Left |
|---|---|---|
| Superficial thrombophlebitis of leg | I80.01 | I80.02 |
| Superficial vein thrombosis of leg | I82.811 | I82.812 |
| Baker’s (popliteal) cyst | M71.21 | M71.22 |
| Cellulitis of lower limb | L03.115 | L03.116 |
| Lymphedema | I89.0 | I89.0 |
| Chronic venous insufficiency | I87.2 | I87.2 |
| Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified | I73.9 | I73.9 |
Symptoms overlap enough that providers confirm DVT with imaging, as NHLBI’s venous thromboembolism guide explains. Code what the provider concludes after that study, and keep the look-alike code as specific about side as the DVT code would have been.
Coders trip over two rules here. Category I80 has an Excludes1 note for venous embolism and thrombosis of the lower extremities, so I80 codes don’t pair with I82.4-, I82.5-, or I82.81-. The “superficial femoral vein” belongs to the deep system, so a clot there is femoral DVT, coded from I82.41-.
DVT Diagnosis Codes and CPT 93970/93971 Medical Necessity
There’s no CPT code for DVT itself. The venous duplex study is the procedure: CPT 93970 for a complete bilateral study and CPT 93971 for a unilateral or limited study. Don’t append modifier 50 to 93971. The DVT ICD-10 code or symptom code on the claim proves the study met medical necessity.
Novitas’ LCD L35451 for venous ultrasound ties coverage to documented signs, symptoms, or a clinical change in known DVT, and it doesn’t cover routine screening. The companion CMS billing article A52993 lists the diagnosis codes that support the study and the coding rules for each CPT code.
Other Medicare contractors publish their own policies for the same studies. Our local coverage determination guide shows you how to find the one for your state before you build a claim around it. Then run four checks before a duplex claim goes out:
- Point the duplex line to the symptom or confirmed DVT code
- Document the reason for any repeat study
- Confirm commercial prior authorization rules before scheduling
- Match the CPT code to the study’s scope, bilateral or unilateral
Vascular labs and cardiology groups run into these edits each week. Our vascular and cardiology billing team works duplex claims daily, and we run prior authorization checks before the patient reaches the ultrasound room, so commercial requirements don’t surprise you after the visit.
Why DVT Claims Get Denied, and What V28 HCC 267 Changes
DVT denials trace back to four causes in most cases: a header code on the claim, a diagnosis that doesn’t explain the procedure, a study without documented medical necessity, or an acuity that doesn’t match the chart. Each one is preventable on your side of the claim.
| Denial | What triggered it | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| CO-11, diagnosis inconsistent with procedure | Z86.718 alone on a duplex claim | Add the presenting symptom or documented clinical change |
| CO-50, medical necessity not met | Screening or repeat study with no new symptoms | Document the indication before the study |
| CO-16 or front-end rejection | I82.40 or another header code | Report the complete code with all six characters |
| Audit finding | Resolved clot coded I82.4- or I82.5- | Move to Z86.718 once the clot is gone |
Our guides to CO-11 mismatch denials and CO-50 medical necessity denials walk through the appeal when one of these slips past your scrubber.
DVT and Risk Adjustment Under V28
In the 2024 CMS-HCC model, known as V28, acute and chronic DVT ICD-10 codes map to HCC 267, “Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism.” That category includes I82.4-, I82.5-, I82.62-, I82.72-, and the I82.A-, I82.B-, and I82.C- codes, along with I26.-. Z86.718 doesn’t map.
CMS uses that model alone for payment year 2026 Medicare Advantage risk scores. Coding a resolved clot as active inflates the score, and risk adjustment auditors look for that pattern. They want MEAT support: proof the provider monitored, evaluated, assessed, or treated the clot. The CMS risk adjustment mapping files list the HCC for each code.
If CO-11 and CO-50 keep showing up on your duplex claims, the root cause sits upstream of billing. Our denial management services team traces each denial back to documentation, coding, or authorization, then fixes the pattern so the next claim goes out clean.
DVT ICD-10 FAQs
Is I82.40 a billable ICD-10 code?
No. I82.40 is a header for acute embolism and thrombosis of unspecified deep veins of the lower extremity, and it needs a sixth character before it can go on a claim. Report I82.401 for the right leg, I82.402 for the left, I82.403 for both, or I82.409 when the record doesn’t name a side.
Claims that carry I82.40 tend to reject at the clearinghouse before a payer sees them. If the code keeps appearing on your claims, check the EHR problem list first, since someone picked the parent row at some point.
What is the ICD-10 code for a blood clot?
ICD-10-CM has no single code for a blood clot. The Alphabetic Index sends a clot in a vein to Thrombosis, so the vein named in the record decides the code. With no vein named at all, use I82.90 for an acute clot or I82.91 for a chronic one.
Don’t settle for I82.90 when the record documents a leg DVT. That diagnosis belongs in I82.40- or under the code for the named vein, and either one tells the payer far more about what the provider treated.
Is there one ICD-10 code for VTE?
No. The CDC defines venous thromboembolism as DVT plus pulmonary embolism, and ICD-10-CM gives each one its own code. Report the DVT from I82.- and the pulmonary embolism from I26.-, and the Excludes2 note on I82 lets both codes sit on the same claim.
Once both clots resolve, the history codes follow the same split. Use Z86.718 for the prior DVT and Z86.711 for the prior pulmonary embolism, and add Z79.01 if the patient stays on an anticoagulant long term.
How do you code recurrent DVT?
ICD-10-CM has no recurrent DVT code, so you code the new clot by acuity, vein, and side, as you would a first episode. If the earlier clot resolved, you can add Z86.718 next to a new acute I82.4- code, because the Excludes1 note that blocks Z86.718 sits on I82.5- and I82.7-.
Add Z79.01 when the provider continues long-term anticoagulants, which is common after a second clot. A thrombophilia workup can add a D68.5- code if the provider documents a disorder such as factor V Leiden.
Does acute DVT become chronic after three months?
No. ICD-10-CM has no time trigger that moves a clot from acute to chronic. The code changes only when the provider documents the clot as chronic or resolved, no matter how long the patient has been on treatment.
Anticoagulation for DVT runs at least three months in most cases, and that three-month mark tempts some coders to switch codes on their own. Query the provider instead when the record suggests an old clot but doesn’t say chronic.
Does ICD-10 have codes for provoked or unprovoked DVT?
No. ICD-10-CM doesn’t split DVT into provoked and unprovoked codes. You capture the cause with additional codes when the provider documents it, alongside the DVT ICD-10 code for the vein and side.
Report T81.72XA when the provider ties the clot to a procedure and T82.868A when a vascular device caused it. Use D68.51 or D68.52 for a documented thrombophilia, and O22.3- or O87.1 when the clot occurs during pregnancy or after delivery.
Which comes first on the claim, the DVT code or Z79.01?
List the condition the provider treated or monitored first, meaning the I82 code or Z86.718, and put Z79.01 after it. Z79.01 describes ongoing therapy, and it doesn’t explain why the patient came in.
INR visits follow their own sequencing rule. Z51.81’s Tabular note says you can sequence it with the Z79 code in either order. Point each service line to the diagnosis that supports it in the CMS-1500 diagnosis pointer field, and our CMS-1500 box-by-box guide shows where that field sits.
What is the ICD-11 code for DVT?
US claims don’t use ICD-11. HIPAA requires ICD-10-CM for diagnosis coding, and as of this October 2026 review, HHS hasn’t announced a US compliance date for ICD-11. The code on a DVT claim this year comes from ICD-10-CM, starting with category I82.
ICD-11 organizes thrombosis with a different structure, and US payers won’t accept ICD-11 codes on claims. If your practice wants to prepare early, our ICD-11 transition roadmap lays out a realistic timeline.
Is venous thrombosis the same as DVT?
DVT is one kind of venous thrombosis: a clot in a deep vein, such as the femoral, popliteal, or brachial vein. Clots in superficial veins count as venous thrombosis too, and they take different codes, I82.81- for the legs and I80.0- when the provider documents thrombophlebitis.
That distinction changes the payer’s view of the claim as well as the code. The MedlinePlus DVT overview explains DVT in terms patients can follow, which helps when you’re building education materials.
Getting DVT Claims Right the First Time
Acuity, vein, and side build the DVT ICD-10 code, and Z86.718 takes over once the clot is gone. The diagnosis you report has to explain each duplex study on the claim, or the payer will ask why the provider ordered it.
If your team spends more time reworking DVT claims than seeing patients, consider handing that work off. Our full-service medical billing covers coding review, claim scrubbing, and payer follow-up, and our revenue cycle management services keep the whole cycle consistent month to month. Send us a few denied DVT claims, and we’ll show you what’s driving them.
