Vascular dementia, unspecified severity, with agitation

This code signifies a form of dementia caused by cerebrovascular disease, where the severity of cognitive decline is not specified, and the patient exhibits symptoms of agitation. Vascular dementia results from brain damage due to impaired blood flow, leading to cognitive impairments that can include memory loss, executive dysfunction, and language difficulties.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of vascular dementia, the severity is not explicitly stated (e.g., mild, moderate, severe), and agitation is present as a behavioral disturbance. Supporting documentation should include physician notes detailing the dementia type, the presence of agitation, and the absence of a specified severity level.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly links the agitation to the vascular dementia.
• Do not use this code if the severity of the vascular dementia (e.g., mild, moderate, severe) is documented; instead, select the appropriate code specifying severity.
• Consider additional codes for specific cerebrovascular conditions (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack) if they are the underlying cause of the vascular dementia and are still active or relevant to the current encounter.