[vb.net] How to check for a Null value in VB.NET

editTransactionRow.pay_id is Null so in fact you are doing: null.ToString() and it cannot be executed. You need to check editTransactionRow.pay_id and not editTransactionRow.pay_id.ToString();

You code should be (IF pay_id is a string):

If String.IsNullOrEmpty(editTransactionRow.pay_id) = False Then
    stTransactionPaymentID = editTransactionRow.pay_id 'Check for null value
End If

If pay_id is an Integer than you can just check if it's null normally without String... Edit to show you if it's not a String:

If editTransactionRow.pay_id IsNot Nothing Then
    stTransactionPaymentID = editTransactionRow.pay_id 'Check for null value
End If

If it's from a database you can use IsDBNull but if not, do not use it.