arduino for vfd

How about this:

Before:

//******************************************************* 
void lcdCommand( unsigned char cmnd ) 
{ 
  LCD_DPRT = cmnd; 
  LCD_CPRT &= ~ (1<<LCD_RS);          // LCD_RS/LCD_RW pins of PortB are cleared... 
  LCD_CPRT &= ~ (1<<LCD_RW);           // ...as required to send commands to LCD. 
  LCD_CPRT |= (1<<LCD_EN);           // LCD_EN pin of PortB is set (pulsed)for internal latching to send a command. 
 delay_us(.02);        // delay 20 ns for LCD module to run a command. 
  LCD_CPRT &= ~ (1<<LCD_EN);          // LCD_EN pin of PortB is cleared after sending a command. 
 delay_us(.26);        // delay 260ns between commands sent. 
} 

//*******************************************************

After:

//******************************************************* 
void lcdCommand( unsigned char cmnd ) 
{ 
  LCD_DPRT = cmnd;                    // set up data lines
  LCD_CPRT &= ~ (1<<LCD_RS);          // RS low, select 'instruction' register
  LCD_CPRT &= ~ (1<<LCD_RW);          // RW low, 'write' data to LCD

// pulse the Enable pin - data is transferred on the falling edge
  LCD_CPRT |= (1<<LCD_EN);            // Enable high
  delay_us(.02);        	      // Enable must be high for at least 230nS
  LCD_CPRT &= ~ (1<<LCD_EN);          // Enable low
  delay_us(.26);                      // Enable must be low for at least 230nS
} 

//*******************************************************

Now compare this to the timing diagram in the data sheet (NOT in the textbook) and find out what is missing and/or wrong.

I haven't looked at the rest of your code yet.

Don