I can sence that in future people will bitch about this option being only toggle for both panels.

diff --git a/ElvUI_SLE/defaults/profile.lua b/ElvUI_SLE/defaults/profile.lua
index cb85114..d5704eb 100644
--- a/ElvUI_SLE/defaults/profile.lua
+++ b/ElvUI_SLE/defaults/profile.lua
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ P['sle'] = {
 			['enable'] = false,
 			['alpha'] = 0.5,
 		},
-		['combathide'] = false,
+		['combathide'] = "NONE",
 	},

 	--Combat Icon
diff --git a/ElvUI_SLE/modules/chat.lua b/ElvUI_SLE/modules/chat.lua
index 5f9a5bc..740c35f 100644
--- a/ElvUI_SLE/modules/chat.lua
+++ b/ElvUI_SLE/modules/chat.lua
@@ -449,17 +449,25 @@ function CH:SpamFilter()
 end

 function CH:Combat(event)
-	if not E.db.sle.chat.combathide then return end
+	if E.db.sle.chat.combathide == "NONE" then return end
 	if event == "PLAYER_REGEN_DISABLED" then
-		RightChatPanel:Hide()
-		RightChatToggleButton:Hide()
-		LeftChatPanel:Hide()
-		LeftChatToggleButton:Hide()
+		if E.db.sle.chat.combathide == "BOTH" or E.db.sle.chat.combathide == "RIGHT" then
+			RightChatPanel:Hide()
+			RightChatToggleButton:Hide()
+		end
+		if E.db.sle.chat.combathide == "BOTH" or E.db.sle.chat.combathide == "LEFT" then
+			LeftChatPanel:Hide()
+			LeftChatToggleButton:Hide()
+		end
 	elseif event == "PLAYER_REGEN_ENABLED" then
-		RightChatPanel:Show()
-		RightChatToggleButton:Show()
-		LeftChatPanel:Show()
-		LeftChatToggleButton:Show()
+		if not RightChatPanel:IsShown() then
+			RightChatPanel:Show()
+			RightChatToggleButton:Show()
+		end
+		if not LeftChatPanel:IsShown() then
+			LeftChatPanel:Show()
+			LeftChatToggleButton:Show()
+		end
 	end
 end

diff --git a/ElvUI_SLE/options/chat_c.lua b/ElvUI_SLE/options/chat_c.lua
index 066a434..5c8a0e2 100644
--- a/ElvUI_SLE/options/chat_c.lua
+++ b/ElvUI_SLE/options/chat_c.lua
@@ -60,10 +60,16 @@ local function configTable()
 			},
 			combathide = {
 				order = 8,
-				type = "toggle",
+				type = "select",
 				name = L["Hide In Combat"],
 				get = function(info) return E.db.sle.chat.combathide end,
 				set = function(info, value)	E.db.sle.chat.combathide = value; end,
+				values = {
+					["NONE"] = NONE,
+					["BOTH"] = L["Both"],
+					["LEFT"] = L["Left"],
+					["RIGHT"] = L["Right"],
+				}
 			},
 			textureAlpha = {
 				order = 10,