FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

D33.3 vs H93.3-

D33.3 and H93.3 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.

The official note, declared on H93.3
acoustic neuroma (D33.3)
D33.3

Benign neoplasm of cranial nerves

Billable
Chapter 2
Neoplasms
Section
D10-D36
Use when the record says
  • Benign neoplasm of olfactory bulb
Indexed under
  • Neurilemmoma › acoustic (nerve)
  • Neuroma › acoustic (nerve)
  • Neuroma › optic (nerve)
H93.3

Disorders of acoustic nerve

Not billable
Chapter 8
Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
Section
H90-H94
Use when the record says
  • Disorder of 8th cranial nerve
Indexed under
  • Neuritis › acoustic (nerve)

These two codes sit in different chapters of the Tabular List, which is usually the clearest signal that they describe different underlying processes rather than different degrees of the same one.

Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027