Pacheco

Appellant, Louis Pacheco, appeals from a superior court judgment denying his petition for an administrative writ of mandamus. The petition, filed pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5, sought an order directing respondent, Board of Retirement of the County of Los Angeles Employees’ Retirement Association (the Board), to award appellant a service-connected disability pension. (Gov. Code, § 31720.) We conclude that the trial court applied the correct standard for determining service-connected disability and that substantial evidence supports its conclusion that appellant’s disability is not service-connected. We therefore affirm the judgment.

Appellant commenced employment with Los Angeles County in 1971. Prior to that time he had experienced psychiatric disorders which were exac erbated by drug and alcohol abuse. Appellant had consulted with a psychiatrist, had joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and was drug and alcohol free at the time he commenced county employment. Appellant disclosed his prior medical history to county personnel officials who referred him to a counselor whom he saw intermittently throughout his county employment. He experienced psychological…