It might be B.S. and the Marine Corps living in the past, but we have never hesitated to throw out plenty of low use batteries just to ensure you have a full one in the optic before use.
No, this is important. Don't start a mission with an unknown-full battery. If you never turned the unit on or otherwise know for sure just a few minutes here and there, fine. Otherwise, scrap it.
Now, I don't trash them. I have a whole bin of "not very used" batteries as I keep them, put those in clocks and remotes and stuff then. Occasionally a dead one, but mostly they last years in low-importance, low-draw things. I also have lots of spare 123 flashlights around the house so those go into the not-serious-use lights.
And as I put lithiums in these devices, it can save me from stuff like the clock and remote I both found
this week with asploded batteries. Alkalines are crap.
Next: I was told by someone whose company has a CAGE code that some PVS-14s have a power supply oddity and don't necessarily like the additional starting voltage of Lithium AAs, so suggested rechargable NiMh. Which I use. And which work great also, can't explode, are easy to keep topped off, etc.
Regardless of truth to that, it makes me think how neat it would be if the Army would spec a rechargeable, include charge ports on the case, then when charging that disables unit draw so you plug them in while in the arms room, keep them topped up, ready to go, and are sure they aren't draining.
Ah... dreams.