Claim Raven explanation
What this means
VA must consider the places, types, and circumstances of your service. This statute also provides a special evidence rule for qualifying combat-related in-service injury or disease when the account is consistent with that service.
The combat provision can address the lack of an official record of an event. It does not automatically establish every other element of a current disability claim, such as the current diagnosis or all necessary medical connections.
How this helps your claim
Explain the event in the context of your actual duties and service. Unit history, service records, and firsthand accounts can help VA evaluate whether the evidence fits the conditions and hardships involved.
What to check in your records
Use your decision, examination reports, and relevant records to check the following points.
- Identify records describing duties, unit activity, and relevant combat circumstances.
- Gather firsthand statements about the in-service injury or disease.
- Check whether VA separately addressed the service event, current disability, and required connection.
Connect the account to actual service circumstances
The places, types and circumstances of service can help explain an event even when records are incomplete. Describe the activity and what was personally experienced, with relevant personnel or unit information where available. Avoid adding details simply because they resemble a known combat scenario.
The combat provision addresses a particular evidentiary issue under its conditions. It should not be treated as a universal exemption from every claim requirement. Keep the in-service event, current disability and any required medical relationship separately identified in the decision.
Does establishing a combat event prove the entire disability claim?
No. The special evidence rule can help establish the qualifying in-service injury or disease, but other elements remain. A current diagnosis and the relevant relationship evidence may still be necessary. The provision's value should be described accurately without promising that combat status alone determines the outcome.
Official statutory text
38 USC § 1154
OLRC release through Public Law 119-102 (July 12, 2026). Layout and spacing are adapted for reading. The statutory text is shown here; publisher source credits and editorial notes remain in the linked official release.
§ 1154. Consideration to be accorded time, place, and circumstances of service
(a) The Secretary shall include in the regulations pertaining to service-connection of disabilities (1) additional provisions in effect requiring that in each case where a veteran is seeking service-connection for any disability due consideration shall be given to the places, types, and circumstances of such veteran’s service as shown by such veteran’s service record, the official history of each organization in which such veteran served, such veteran’s medical records, and all pertinent medical and lay evidence, and (2) the provisions required by section 5 of the Veterans’ Dioxin and Radiation Exposure Compensation Standards Act (Public Law 98–542; 98 Stat. 2727).
(b) In the case of any veteran who engaged in combat with the enemy in active service with a military, naval, air, or space organization of the United States during a period of war, campaign, or expedition, the Secretary shall accept as sufficient proof of service-connection of any disease or injury alleged to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service satisfactory lay or other evidence of service incurrence or aggravation of such injury or disease, if consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of such service, notwithstanding the fact that there is no official record of such incurrence or aggravation in such service, and, to that end, shall resolve every reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran. Service-connection of such injury or disease may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. The reasons for granting or denying service-connection in each case shall be recorded in full.
Related references
- 38 USC § 5107: Benefit of the doubt in VA claims
- 38 CFR § 3.159: VA duty to assist: records and examinations
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