Upon application of any party in interest for a death benefit provided by this division on the death of an employee member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the latter shall be joined as a defendant, and the appeals board shall determine whether the death resulted from injury or illness arising out of and in the course of his employment, for the purpose of enabling the appeals board to apply the provision of this division and the board of administration to apply the provisions of the Public Employees’ Retirement Law.