ICD-10 Code for Unsteady Gait
Also searched as unsteadiness on feet, unsteady on feet
The ICD-10-CM code for unsteady gait is R26.81 — Unsteadiness on feet. It is billable for FY2027.
Unsteady gait ICD-10 codes at a glance
| Condition | Unsteady gait |
|---|---|
| Code | R26.81 — Unsteadiness on feet |
| Billable | Yes (R26.81) |
| Alphabetic Index entry | Unsteadiness on feet |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027, valid October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Can you code unsteady gait when the cause is known?
Unsteady gait is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. The official guidelines allow a symptom code while a related definitive diagnosis has not been established, and a symptom routinely associated with a confirmed disease is not coded separately:
“Codes that describe symptoms and signs, as opposed to diagnoses, are acceptable for reporting purposes when a related definitive diagnosis has not been established (confirmed) by the provider.”
“Signs and symptoms that are associated routinely with a disease process should not be assigned as additional codes, unless otherwise instructed by the classification.”
What does the Tabular List say about R26.81?
The instructional notes that govern R26.81, including those it inherits from its category and chapter. An Excludes1 note means the two codes are never reported together.
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from R26
The conditions below can never be reported together with R26.81 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 18
The conditions below are not part of R26.81, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R26.81 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Codes, descriptions and Index entries are from the official ICD-10-CM FY2027 release. Guideline text is quoted from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2027. A code must always be verified in the Tabular List before it is reported. Data sources