L98.49 ICD-10-CM Code: Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin of other sites

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for L98.49 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on L98.49 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for L98.49

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code L98.49

1. L98.49 is not reportable as written. Select the more specific code beneath it that the documentation supports. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity the classification provides (Guidelines I.B.2).

   ReviewL98.491, L98.492, L98.493, L98.494, L98.495, L98.496, L98.498, L98.499

   See the relationships section · Guide: How to choose an ICD-10-CM code →

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath L98.49?
   Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
   No → L98.49 cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

   ReviewL98.491, L98.492, L98.493, L98.494, L98.495, L98.496, L98.498, L98.499

Consider L98.49. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Acuity

Acute or chronic as documented; when both are documented and separate codes exist, both are reported with the acute code first (Guidelines I.B.8).

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes2 — not part of L98.49(6 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in L98.49. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareL89, I96, L97

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse L98.49 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of L98.49 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• L89— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of pressure ulcer (pressure area) adds L89; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L98.49 vs L89 →

• I96— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of gangrene adds I96; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L98.49 vs I96 →

• L00— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of skin infections adds L00; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L98.49 vs L00 →

• L08— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of skin infections adds L08; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L98.49 vs L08 →

• L97— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of ulcer of lower limb NEC adds L97; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L98.49 vs L97 →

• I83.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of varicose ulcer adds I83.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L98.49 vs I83.0 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: L98.491, L98.492, L98.493, L98.494, L98.495.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name L98.49 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 18 Use Additional Code instructions across 3 chapters: E08.622 — Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with other skin ulcer (via L98.-), E09.622 — Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer (via L98.-), E10.622 — Type 1 diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer (via L98.-), E11.622 — Type 2 diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer (via L98.-), E13.622 — Other specified diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer (via L98.-), I70.25 — Atherosclerosis of native arteries of other extremities with ulceration, I70.26 — Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with gangrene, I70.35 — Atherosclerosis of unspecified type of bypass graft(s) of other extremity with ulceration, I70.36 — Atherosclerosis of unspecified type of bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene, I70.45 — Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of other extremity with ulceration, I70.46 — Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene, I70.55 — Atherosclerosis of nonautologous biological bypass graft(s) of other extremity with ulceration, I70.56 — Atherosclerosis of nonautologous biological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene, I70.65 — Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of other extremity with ulceration, I70.66 — Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene, I70.75 — Atherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft(s) of other extremity with ulceration, I70.76 — Atherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft(s) of the extremities with gangrene, T65.84 — Toxic effect of xylazine (via L98.4.-).

These codes instruct coders to additionally report this code when it applies.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of L98.49 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run L98.49 with these 8 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• L00-L99 — Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99) (L00-L99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions (18)

• E08.622 — Diabetes mellitus due to underlying condition with other skin ulcer[Use Additional Code](via L98.-): “code to identify site of ulcer (L97.1-L97.9, L98.41-L98.49)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• E09.622 — Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer[Use Additional Code](via L98.-): “code to identify site of ulcer (L97.1-L97.9, L98.41-L98.49)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• E10.622 — Type 1 diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer[Use Additional Code](via L98.-): “code to identify site of ulcer (L97.1-L97.9, L98.41-L98.49)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• E11.622 — Type 2 diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer[Use Additional Code](via L98.-): “code to identify site of ulcer (L97.1-L97.9, L98.41-L98.49)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• E13.622 — Other specified diabetes mellitus with other skin ulcer[Use Additional Code](via L98.-): “code to identify site of ulcer (L97.1-L97.9, L98.41-L98.49)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• I70.25 — Atherosclerosis of native arteries of other extremities with ulceration[Use Additional Code]: “code to identify the severity of the ulcer (L98.49-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• I70.26 — Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with gangrene[Use Additional Code]: “code to identify the severity of any ulcer (L97.-, L98.49-), if applicable”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• I70.35 — Atherosclerosis of unspecified type of bypass graft(s) of other extremity with ulceration[Use Additional Code]: “code to identify severity of ulcer (L98.49-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 10 more

Nearest codes (40)

• L98 — Other disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue, not elsewhere classified[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.458 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of neck with other specified severity[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.459 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of neck with unspecified severity[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.46 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.461 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face limited to breakdown of skin[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.462 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face with fat layer exposed[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.463 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face with necrosis of muscle[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.464 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face with necrosis of bone[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Common coding questions

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to L98.49 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• L98.474 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin with necrosis of bone
• L98.475 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
• L98.476 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
• L98.478 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin with other specified severity
• L98.479 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin with unspecified severity
• L98.491 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin of other sites limited to breakdown of skin
• L98.492 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin of other sites with fat layer exposed
• L98.493 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin of other sites with necrosis of muscle
• L98.494 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin of other sites with necrosis of bone
• L98.495 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin of other sites with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis

View all codes in the L98 family