IB 

Union Calendar No. 175 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1443 

[Report No. 113–247] 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize tinnitus as a mandatory condition for research and treatment by the Department of Veterans 

Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 9, 2013 

Mr. MICHAUD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

OCTOBER 22, 2013 

Additional sponsors: Mr. O’ROURKE, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. WALZ, 

and Mr. MCGOVERN

OCTOBER 22, 2013 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1443 RH

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize 

tinnitus as a mandatory condition for research and treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 

other purposes. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1443 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tinnitus Research and 

5 Treatment Act of 2013’’. 

6 SEC. 2. RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT OF TINNITUS AT 

7 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUDI8 TORY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 

9 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall recognize 

10 tinnitus as a mandatory condition for research and treat11 ment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory 

12 Centers of Excellence. 

13 SEC. 3. RESEARCH ON PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF 

14 TINNITUS. 

15 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that 

16 research is conducted at Department of Veterans Affairs 

17 facilities on the prevention and treatment of tinnitus. Such 

18 research shall include— 

19 (1) an assessment of the efficacy of multidisci20 plinary tinnitus treatment modalities on different 

21 subsets of patients; 

22 (2) studies on the underlying etiology of 

23 tinnitus in veteran populations that occur as a result 

24 of different causal factors, including blast-related 

25 tinnitus where there is no measurable hearing loss 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 1443 RH

1 versus other forms of noise-induced tinnitus where 

2 there is hearing loss; and 

3 (3) a study of the underlying mechanisms be4 tween hearing loss and tinnitus, including cases in 

5 which one or the other condition is present, but not 

6 both. 

7 SEC. 4. INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION. 

8 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure the 

9 cooperation of the Department of Veterans Affairs with 

10 the Hearing Center of Excellence established by the De11 partment of Defense to further research on tinnitus. 

12 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

13 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tinnitus Research and 

14 Treatment Act of 2013’’. 

15 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

16 Congress makes the following findings: 

17 (1) Since 2006, the most prevalent service-con18 nected disability for which veterans have received 

19 compensation under the laws administered by the 

20 Secretary of Veterans Affairs has been tinnitus. 

21 (2) The number of veterans receiving such com22 pensation for tinnitus has risen each year since 2006, 

23 increasing the number and cost of the compensation 

24 claims paid by the Secretary. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 1443 RH

1 (3) A growing body of peer reviewed literature 

2 indicates a direct connection between traumatic brain 

3 injury, post traumatic stress disorder, and tinnitus. 

4 (4) An analysis of data collected by the Depart5 ment of Veterans Affairs concluded that total amount 

6 of disability compensation paid for tinnitus by the 

7 Department of Veterans Affairs in 2012 was 

8 $1,500,000,000. 

9 (5) Based on projected rates of growth, the 

10 amount of disability compensation payable to vet11 erans for tinnitus is expected to exceed $3,000,000,000 

12 in 2017. 

13 SEC. 3. RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT OF TINNITUS AT 

14 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUDI15 TORY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 

16 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall recognize 

17 tinnitus as a condition for research and treatment by the 

18 Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excel19 lence. 

20 SEC. 4. RESEARCH ON PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF 

21 TINNITUS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

23 shall recognize the need to enhance the research and treat24 ment of tinnitus and to ensure the allocation of appropriate 

25 resources directed at the research and enhanced treatment 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 1443 RH

1 of tinnitus conducted by the Auditory Centers of Excellence 

2 of the Department of Veterans Affairs, commensurate with 

3 peer-review protocols. Such research shall include— 

4 (1) an assessment of the efficacy of multidisci5 plinary tinnitus treatment modalities on different 

6 subsets of patients; 

7 (2) studies on the underlying etiology of tinnitus 

8 in veteran populations that occur as a result of dif9 ferent causal factors, including blast-related tinnitus 

10 where there is no measurable hearing loss versus other 

11 forms of noise-induced tinnitus where there is hearing 

12 loss; and 

13 (3) a study of the underlying mechanisms be14 tween hearing loss and tinnitus, including cases in 

15 which one or the other condition is present, but not 

16 both. 

17 (b) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER AUTHORITIES.—Noth18 ing in this section shall be construed as interfering with 

19 the discretion of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct 

20 research in accordance with peer-review protocols in order 

21 to ensure the quality and transparency of the research. 

22 SEC. 5. INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION. 

23 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure the co24 operation of the Department of Veterans Affairs with the 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 1443 RH

1 Hearing Center of Excellence established by the Department 

2 of Defense to further research on tinnitus. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 175 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1443 

[Report No. 113–247] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recerans Affairs, and for other purposes. search and treatment by the Department of Vet- ognize tinnitus as a mandatory condition for reOCTOBER 22, 2013 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS