Scarring and thickening of lung tissue leading to chronic breathing difficulties
The most directly useful evidence for this condition is pulmonary function testing. An FVC test measures how much air you can forcibly exhale and how that compares to a predicted value for someone your age, height, and sex. A DLCO SB test measures how efficiently your lungs transfer gas into the blood. Both tests produce percentage-of-predicted values that correspond directly to the rating criteria, so having current, complete pulmonary function test results is central to establishing which level applies to you.
For the 60% level, records of cardiopulmonary exercise testing showing your maximum oxygen consumption would support that criteria. For the 100% level, records showing a diagnosis of cor pulmonale or pulmonary hypertension, such as echocardiogram or right heart catheterization results, or a physician's prescription and records confirming outpatient oxygen use, would reflect those specific criteria.
Statements from you or people who know you describing how breathing difficulties affect your ability to work, walk, climb stairs, or carry out daily activities can help show the real-world impact of your lung function findings.
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.
