Lumbar Disc Degeneration ICD-10 Code: M51.369

Last updated: August 28, 2026

Quick Answer

Since the FY2025 update (effective October 1, 2024), M51.36 is no longer billable. Lumbar disc degeneration now requires a fifth character based on pain symptoms: M51.360 (with discogenic back pain only), M51.361 (with lower extremity pain only), M51.362 (with both), or M51.369 (without mention of either).

Primary Code Details

Code	Description	Billable
M51.369	Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region without mention of lumbar back pain or lower extremity pain	Yes

Related Codes

Code	Description	Billable
M51.360	Lumbar disc degeneration with discogenic back pain only	Yes
M51.361	Lumbar disc degeneration with lower extremity pain only	Yes
M51.362	Lumbar disc degeneration with discogenic back pain and lower extremity pain	Yes
M51.370	Lumbosacral disc degeneration with discogenic back pain only	Yes
M51.379	Lumbosacral disc degeneration without mention of back pain or lower extremity pain	Yes
M47.816	Spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy, lumbar region	Yes
M54.51	Vertebrogenic low back pain	Yes

Documentation Requirements

Specify the spinal region: lumbar (M51.36x) vs lumbosacral (M51.37x)
Document whether discogenic back pain is present - this now drives code selection
Document whether lower extremity (radiating) pain is present
Note imaging findings supporting disc degeneration (MRI, X-ray)
Distinguish degeneration from disc displacement/herniation (M51.26, M51.27)

Common Coding Scenarios

Degenerative Disc Disease with Axial Back Pain

Documentation:

"MRI shows L4-L5 disc desiccation and height loss. Patient reports chronic axial low back pain without radiation."

Code:

M51.360 - Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain only

Rationale:

Discogenic back pain is documented without lower extremity symptoms, so the fifth character 0 applies. Do not add M54.50 - the combination code includes the pain.

Disc Degeneration with Radiating Leg Pain

Documentation:

"L5-S1 disc degeneration on imaging; patient reports pain radiating down the left posterior thigh, no significant axial back pain."

Code:

M51.371 - Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with lower extremity pain only

Rationale:

L5-S1 is the lumbosacral junction, so use the M51.37x series. Lower extremity pain without back pain takes fifth character 1.

Incidental Finding on Imaging

Documentation:

"CT for kidney stones notes mild multilevel lumbar disc degeneration. Patient denies back or leg symptoms."

Code:

M51.369 - Lumbar disc degeneration without mention of back pain or lower extremity pain

Rationale:

No pain symptoms are documented, so the fifth character 9 applies. Only code the finding if it is clinically evaluated or affects care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is M51.36 still a valid ICD-10 code?

No. M51.36 became a non-billable parent code in the FY2025 update (effective October 1, 2024). Claims require one of the new five-character codes: M51.360, M51.361, M51.362, or M51.369, selected based on documented pain symptoms.

What replaced M51.36 for lumbar degenerative disc disease?

Four new codes based on symptoms: M51.360 (discogenic back pain only), M51.361 (lower extremity pain only), M51.362 (both back and leg pain), and M51.369 (no mention of either). The lumbosacral code M51.37 was split the same way into M51.370-M51.379.

Should I also code M54.50 for the back pain?

No. The new combination codes include the pain component. Coding M54.50 (low back pain) alongside M51.360 or M51.362 is redundant, and payers may flag it.

Related Resources

Last updated: August 2026. Code data reflects ICD-10-CM 2026 version. This guide is for educational purposes only. Always verify codes against current official guidelines.