A 62-year-old former shipyard pipefitter presents with progressive exertional dyspnea and dry cough. He has 30 years of occupational asbestos exposure (1975–2005) without respiratory protection and a 20 pack-year smoking history (quit 10 years ago). Examination reveals bilateral fine end-inspiratory crackles at the lung bases with finger clubbing and reduced chest expansion. High-resolution CT shows subpleural reticulation, honeycombing in the lower lobes, and bilateral calcified pleural plaques. Spirometry is performed and the tracing shows the pattern marked **A** in the diagram. Which of the following best describes the ventilatory defect demonstrated by this spirometric pattern?
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