A 48-year-old man with severe community-acquired pneumonia is intubated in the ICU 36 hours after admission. Despite FiO₂ 0.8 and PEEP 12 cm H₂O, his PaO₂ is 92 mmHg (P/F ratio = 115). Chest X-ray shows bilateral diffuse infiltrates and bedside echocardiography reveals a normal left ventricle with no elevated filling pressures. ARDS is diagnosed by Berlin Criteria. Three weeks after extubation, pulmonary function testing is performed. The spirometric pattern marked **A** in the diagram is observed. Which of the following best explains the physiological basis for this finding in post-ARDS recovery?
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