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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesIntermittent Claudication

Intermittent Claudication

ICD-10 Coding for Intermittent Claudication(I70.213, I73.9)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYVascular Surgery
COMPLEXITYHigh
LAST UPDATED09/15/2025
Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Intermittent Claudication?
Essential facts and insights about Intermittent Claudication

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Intermittent pain or cramping in the legs during physical activity, relieved by rest
  • Ankle-brachial index (ABI) less than 0.90
  • Decreased or absent pulses in the affected limb

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Patient history of symptoms and duration
  • Results of ABI and other vascular studies
  • Physical exam findings including pulse assessment

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • Use I73.9 for unspecified peripheral vascular disease; use I70.209 for atherosclerosis.
  • Common errors include using incorrect codes for severity or failing to document ABI results.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Acute limb ischemia (I74.9)
  • Chronic venous insufficiency (I87.2)

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
I73.9
Peripheral vascular disease, unspecified
I70.209
Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities, unspecified
Ancillary Codes
Z79.84
Differential Codes
M54.5

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Vascular Surgery

Specialty Applications

  • Adults with risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, or hypertension
  • Vascular surgery clinics and outpatient settings

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

  • Comprehensive clinical documentation
  • Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
  • Proper exclusion considerations
  • Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

  • Ensure proper documentation for billing
  • Verify code specificity requirements
  • Check for any additional codes needed
  • Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

  • Insufficient clinical documentation
  • Incorrect code selection
  • Missing supporting diagnoses
  • Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Document patient history, physical exam findings, and diagnostic test results.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding based on severity and specific vascular conditions.