Is there a VB.NET equivalent for C#'s '??' operator?

Use the If() operator with two arguments (Microsoft documentation):

' Variable first is a nullable type.
Dim first? As Integer = 3
Dim second As Integer = 6

' Variable first <> Nothing, so its value, 3, is returned.
Console.WriteLine(If(first, second))

second = Nothing
' Variable first <> Nothing, so the value of first is returned again. 
Console.WriteLine(If(first, second))

first = Nothing second = 6
' Variable first = Nothing, so 6 is returned.
Console.WriteLine(If(first, second))

The IF() operator should do the trick for you:

value = If(nullable, defaultValueIfNull)

http://visualstudiomagazine.com/listings/list.aspx?id=252

You can use an extension method. This one works like SQL COALESCE and is probably overkill for what you are trying to test, but it works.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Returns the first non-null T based on a collection of the root object and the args.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="obj"></param>
    ''' <param name="args"></param>
    ''' <returns></returns>
    ''' <remarks>Usage
    ''' Dim val as String = "MyVal"
    ''' Dim result as String = val.Coalesce(String.Empty)
    ''' *** returns "MyVal"
    '''
    ''' val = Nothing
    ''' result = val.Coalesce(String.Empty, "MyVal", "YourVal")
    ''' *** returns String.Empty
    '''
    ''' </remarks>
    <System.Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension()> _
    Public Function Coalesce(Of T)(ByVal obj As T, ByVal ParamArray args() As T) As T

        If obj IsNot Nothing Then
            Return obj
        End If

        Dim arg As T
        For Each arg In args
            If arg IsNot Nothing Then
                Return arg
            End If
        Next

        Return Nothing

    End Function

The built-in If(nullable, secondChoice) can only handle two nullable choices. Here, one can Coalesce as many parameters as desired. The first non-null one will be returned, and the rest of the parameters are not evaluated after that (short circuited, like AndAlso/&& and OrElse/|| )

Check Microsoft documentation about If Operator (Visual Basic) here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/language-reference/operators/if-operator

If( [argument1,] argument2, argument3 )

Here are some examples (VB.Net)

' This statement prints TruePart, because the first argument is true.
Console.WriteLine(If(True, "TruePart", "FalsePart"))

' This statement prints FalsePart, because the first argument is false.
Console.WriteLine(If(False, "TruePart", "FalsePart"))

Dim number = 3
' With number set to 3, this statement prints Positive.
Console.WriteLine(If(number >= 0, "Positive", "Negative"))

number = -1
' With number set to -1, this statement prints Negative.
Console.WriteLine(If(number >= 0, "Positive", "Negative"))