Vascular dementia, unspecified severity, with mood disturb

This code signifies a cognitive decline caused by cerebrovascular disease, characterized by impaired memory, executive function, and other cognitive domains, accompanied by significant mood alterations. The severity of the dementia is not specified, indicating a general diagnosis of vascular dementia with an associated mood disturbance.

Use this code when a patient has a documented diagnosis of vascular dementia and the medical record explicitly states the presence of a mood disturbance, such as depression, anxiety, or emotional lability, without specifying the severity of the dementia. Supporting documentation would include physician notes detailing cognitive deficits consistent with vascular etiology and a co-occurring mood disorder.

• Ensure documentation clearly links the mood disturbance to the vascular dementia.
• Do not use if the severity of the dementia is specified (e.g., mild, moderate, severe); instead, use the appropriate F01 subcategory.
• Consider additional codes for specific mood disorders (e.g., F32.9 for major depressive disorder, unspecified) if documented as a separate, distinct condition.