diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 34f84d4..99232c5 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ IMPORT_LIBRARY_DIRS=
 # Heavy compute backend mode for ONNX whisper alignment + PDF layout parsing.
 # local  = run compute in-process (default)
 # worker = external durable worker mode (requires NATS JetStream-backed compute-worker service)
+# Parse progress transport behavior:
+# - local mode: in-process memory event bus inside app server
+# - worker mode: app proxies compute-worker op events via SSE
+# No app-layer NATS configuration is required for parse progress.
 COMPUTE_MODE=local
 # Required when COMPUTE_MODE=worker
 # COMPUTE_WORKER_URL=http://localhost:8081
diff --git a/compute/worker/.env.example b/compute/worker/.env.example
index 800dd93..ae593dd 100644
--- a/compute/worker/.env.example
+++ b/compute/worker/.env.example
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ S3_FORCE_PATH_STYLE=true
 # PDF_LAYOUT_MODEL_BASE_URL=https://huggingface.co/Bei0001/PP-DocLayoutV3-ONNX/resolve/main
 # COMPUTE_PDF_JOB_ATTEMPTS=1
 # COMPUTE_JOBS_STREAM_MAX_BYTES=268435456
+# JetStream stream size limit for op progress events (replay for SSE reconnect)
+# COMPUTE_EVENTS_STREAM_MAX_BYTES=134217728
 # COMPUTE_JOB_STATES_MAX_BYTES=67108864
 # COMPUTE_NATS_REPLICAS=1
 # Optional stale window for reusing in-flight opKey entries before forcing a new attempt
diff --git a/src/app/(app)/pdf/[id]/usePdfDocument.ts b/src/app/(app)/pdf/[id]/usePdfDocument.ts
index fe6101d..4451333 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/pdf/[id]/usePdfDocument.ts
+++ b/src/app/(app)/pdf/[id]/usePdfDocument.ts
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ export function usePdfDocument(): PdfDocumentState {
     }
   }, []);
 
-  const startParsedPolling = useCallback((documentId: string, initialStatus: PdfParseStatus | null) => {
+  const startParsedPolling = useCallback((documentId: string) => {
     parsePollAbortRef.current?.abort();
     parseSseCloseRef.current?.();
     parseSseCloseRef.current = null;
@@ -244,15 +244,8 @@ export function usePdfDocument(): PdfDocumentState {
         }
       },
       onError: () => {
-        // Fall back to parsed polling if browser SSE disconnects.
+        // EventSource reconnects automatically. Keep stream open.
         if (controller.signal.aborted) return;
-        closeSse();
-        parseSseCloseRef.current = null;
-        void fetchParsedDocument(documentId, initialStatus, controller.signal).finally(() => {
-          if (parsePollAbortRef.current === controller) {
-            parsePollAbortRef.current = null;
-          }
-        });
       },
     });
     parseSseCloseRef.current = closeSse;
@@ -464,7 +457,7 @@ export function usePdfDocument(): PdfDocumentState {
         const initialParseStatus = (meta.parseStatus ?? null) as PdfParseStatus | null;
         setParseStatus(initialParseStatus);
         setParseProgress(null);
-        startParsedPolling(id, initialParseStatus);
+        startParsedPolling(id);
         void fetchDocumentSettings(id, controller.signal);
       }
 
@@ -520,7 +513,7 @@ export function usePdfDocument(): PdfDocumentState {
       setParsedDocument(null);
       setParseStatus('pending');
       setParseProgress(null);
-      startParsedPolling(currDocId, 'pending');
+      startParsedPolling(currDocId);
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to force PDF reparse:', error);
     }