I have never really seen a concrete answer to this question.

Would a Visible Red/Green 5mW-12mW laser sight cause damage to a Gen III tube?

Obviously it would if it was pointed into the tube but what about viewing the dot at distances from 20ft to 100 Yards?

Quoted: I have never really seen a concrete answer to this question. Would a Visible Red/Green 5mW-12mW laser sight cause damage to a Gen III tube? Obviously it would if it was pointed into the tube but what about viewing the dot at distances from 20ft to 100 Yards?

Are you talking about a person 20ft-100yds away pointing the laser directly at the NVG or a dot viewing a dot at 20ft-100yds away?

A momentary flash from a laser pointed at the NVG would not hurt it.  Even a prolonged exposure (<60 seconds) would not hurt it.  With the ABC and such of modern NVGs, there's really nothing to worry about.

As for viewing the dot projected on the surface, of course not.