California Code, Government Code - GOV § 31725.8

If any applicant for service-connected disability retirement is found by the board to be permanently physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of his duties but not because of injury or disease arising out of and in the course of his employment, he may apply for, and the board in its discretion may grant, a non-service-connected disability retirement allowance while he is pursuing any rehearing before the board or judicial review concerning his right to service-connected disability retirement. If his disability is finally determined to have been service-connected, appropriate adjustments shall be made in his retirement allowance retroactive to the effective date of his disability retirement.

If any member dies after electing to receive non-service-connected disability retirement and before the question of his entitlement to service-connected disability retirement is finally resolved, the rights of his beneficiary shall be those selected by the member at the time he elected to receive non-service-connected disability retirement.