Hello Jeff,
can you explain step by step what you exactly did? Relocation of a VM shouldn't result in a data loss. I think the EVA isn't the problem. Did you disconnect the LUN before you started the upgrade? Did you select the right volume for the install? Normally the ESXi setup should ask you what to do with a installed ESXi (update and preserve VMFS, update and re-create VMFS, new install).
Regards,
Patrick