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 manda-
tory 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] 
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A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize 
tinnitus as a mandatory condition for research and treat-
ment by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tinnitus Research and 
Treatment Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT OF TINNITUS AT 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUDI-
TORY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall recognize 
tinnitus as a mandatory condition for research and treat-
ment by the Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory 
Centers of Excellence. 
SEC. 3. RESEARCH ON PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF 
TINNITUS. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that 
research is conducted at Department of Veterans Affairs 
facilities on the prevention and treatment of tinnitus. Such 
research shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the efficacy of multidisci-
plinary tinnitus treatment modalities on different 
subsets of patients; 
(2)
studies
on
the
underlying
etiology
of 
tinnitus in veteran populations that occur as a result 
of different causal factors, including blast-related 
tinnitus where there is no measurable hearing loss 
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versus other forms of noise-induced tinnitus where 
there is hearing loss; and 
(3) a study of the underlying mechanisms be-
tween hearing loss and tinnitus, including cases in 
which one or the other condition is present, but not 
both. 
SEC. 4. INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure the 
cooperation of the Department of Veterans Affairs with 
the Hearing Center of Excellence established by the De-
partment of Defense to further research on tinnitus. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tinnitus Research and 
Treatment Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Since 2006, the most prevalent service-con-
nected disability for which veterans have received 
compensation under the laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs has been tinnitus. 
(2) The number of veterans receiving such com-
pensation for tinnitus has risen each year since 2006, 
increasing the number and cost of the compensation 
claims paid by the Secretary. 
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(3) A growing body of peer reviewed literature 
indicates a direct connection between traumatic brain 
injury, post traumatic stress disorder, and tinnitus. 
(4) An analysis of data collected by the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs concluded that total amount 
of disability compensation paid for tinnitus by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in 2012 was 
$1,500,000,000. 
(5) Based on projected rates of growth, the 
amount of disability compensation payable to vet-
erans for tinnitus is expected to exceed $3,000,000,000 
in 2017. 
SEC. 3. RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT OF TINNITUS AT 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUDI-
TORY CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall recognize 
tinnitus as a condition for research and treatment by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs Auditory Centers of Excel-
lence. 
SEC. 4. RESEARCH ON PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF 
TINNITUS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall recognize the need to enhance the research and treat-
ment of tinnitus and to ensure the allocation of appropriate 
resources directed at the research and enhanced treatment 
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of tinnitus conducted by the Auditory Centers of Excellence 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, commensurate with 
peer-review protocols. Such research shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the efficacy of multidisci-
plinary tinnitus treatment modalities on different 
subsets of patients; 
(2) studies on the underlying etiology of tinnitus 
in veteran populations that occur as a result of dif-
ferent causal factors, including blast-related tinnitus 
where there is no measurable hearing loss versus other 
forms of noise-induced tinnitus where there is hearing 
loss; and 
(3) a study of the underlying mechanisms be-
tween hearing loss and tinnitus, including cases in 
which one or the other condition is present, but not 
both. 
(b) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER AUTHORITIES.—Noth-
ing in this section shall be construed as interfering with 
the discretion of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct 
research in accordance with peer-review protocols in order 
to ensure the quality and transparency of the research. 
SEC. 5. INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure the co-
operation of the Department of Veterans Affairs with the 
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Hearing Center of Excellence established by the Department 
of Defense to further research on tinnitus. 
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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 rec-
ognize tinnitus as a mandatory condition for re-
search and treatment by the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
OCTOBER 22, 2013 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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