X31

Exposure to excessive natural cold

FY2027Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity/X30–X39 Exposure to forces of nature

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

X31 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code category for exposure to excessive natural cold. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. A 7th character is required to complete the code. Its coding notes include 3 Excludes1 entries.

7th character

Category X31 requires a 7th character. X31 has only 3 characters, so a placeholder X fills the empty positions.

Assembled code X31.XXXA Open code

Guidelines tip

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

An external cause code is never a principal or first-listed diagnosis. Its 7th character is assigned for each encounter and should match the injury or condition code.

Guidelines I.C.20.a.2; I.C.20.a.6External cause codesRead the official text

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

This code
  • cold of man-made origin (W93.-)
  • contact with or inhalation of dry ice (W93.-)
  • contact with or inhalation of liquefied gas (W93.-)

Inclusion terms

Conditions classified to this code.

This code
  • Excessive cold as the cause of chilblains NOS
  • Excessive cold as the cause of immersion foot or hand
  • Exposure to cold NOS
  • Exposure to weather conditions

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 20 External causes of morbidity
  • This chapter permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used secondary to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter 19, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter 20 should be used to provide additional information as to the cause of the condition.

7th-character codes under X31 3