ICD10BillableValid for clinical use

ICD-10 Code R43.9: Unspecified disturbances of smell and taste

R43.9 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Unspecified disturbances of smell and taste in medical records and claims. You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records. ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026

What is this code?

ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents unspecified disturbances of smell and taste in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.

What it does not mean

  • A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
  • A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.

Code hierarchy

chapter
18Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
block
R40-R46Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior
category
R43Disturbances of smell and taste
currentR43

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.

Related specialists

General Physician

Coverage-related procedures and services

CPT 87428high
INFECTIOUS AGENT ANTIGEN DETECTION BY IMMUNOASSAY TECHNIQUE (EG, ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY [EIA], ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY [ELISA], FLUORESCENCE IMMUNOASSAY [FIA], IMMUNOCHEMILUMINOMETRIC ASSAY [IMCA]), QUALITATIVE OR SEMIQUANTITATIVE; SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS (EG, SARS-COV, SARS-COV-2 [COVID-19]) AND INFLUENZA VIRUS TYPES A AND B
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87631high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); RESPIRATORY VIRUS (EG, ADENOVIRUS, INFLUENZA VIRUS, CORONAVIRUS, METAPNEUMOVIRUS, PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS, RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS, RHINOVIRUS), INCLUDES MULTIPLEX REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION, WHEN PERFORMED, AND MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE, MULTIPLE TYPES OR SUBTYPES, 3-5 TARGETS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87636high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (SARS-COV-2) (CORONAVIRUS DISEASE [COVID-19]) AND INFLUENZA VIRUS TYPES A AND B, MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 87637high
INFECTIOUS AGENT DETECTION BY NUCLEIC ACID (DNA OR RNA); SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS 2 (SARS-COV-2) (CORONAVIRUS DISEASE [COVID-19]), INFLUENZA VIRUS TYPES A AND B, AND RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS, MULTIPLEX AMPLIFIED PROBE TECHNIQUE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 70460high
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, HEAD OR BRAIN; WITH CONTRAST MATERIAL(S)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 70450high
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, HEAD OR BRAIN; WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL
Source: CMS coverage guidance

Coding guidelines

Common synonyms

Unspecified disturbances of smell and taste

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeR43.9
SystemICD10
Display nameUnspecified disturbances of smell and taste
ChapterSymptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
BlockSymptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behavior

Flags

BillableYes
Valid clinical useYes

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

Index terms

Matched terms
Disturbance(s)Disturbance(s)

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.

ICD-10 Code R43.9 for Unspecified disturbances of smell and taste | HealthAssure