Lung disease characterized by destruction of alveoli (air sacs), causing shortness of breath
The most directly useful evidence for this condition comes from pulmonary function testing. Spirometry reports showing your FEV-1 value and the FEV-1/FVC ratio, along with DLCO (SB) results, are the measurements the rating criteria are built around. Make sure test reports include both your raw results and the predicted values so the percentage can be calculated.
For the 60% level, records showing maximum oxygen consumption from a cardiopulmonary exercise test, along with documentation of a cardiorespiratory limitation, directly match that criterion. For the 100% level, additional records matter greatly: echocardiogram or cardiac catheterization results showing pulmonary hypertension, imaging or clinical findings of right ventricular hypertrophy, hospital or emergency records documenting an episode of acute respiratory failure, or a physician's prescription and records showing you require outpatient oxygen therapy.
Statements from you and people who know you describing how breathlessness limits your ability to work, walk, climb stairs, or carry out daily tasks can help show the real-world impact of your measured lung function. Treatment records, medication lists, and notes from pulmonology visits round out the picture.
Conditions that are often caused or made worse by this one. If you have any of these, they may be claimable as secondary service connection.
