Remember, the tool is named Update Manager. For everything else, you can go downstairs the tool hierarchy: Synaptic, apt, and dpkg.
Quite often in distros like MX and Void.
You will notice the upgrade do an update-grub at the end of the upgrade… that is to get the new kernel in the grub menu.
If it is not the distro that is controlling grub, you have to boot the grub-controlling distro and do update-grub there, or the grub menu will not have the new kernel.
In Gentoo, you choose if or when to compile a new kernel. Grub still has to be updated .
OK, but why? Something doesn’t work as expected, or just to try something else?
I didn’t check, but I guess I get 2…3 kernel updates per month. They are applied as usual by the update manager (in LMDE).
Do you mean why upgrade the kernel to a newer version?
It may be necessary to support some upgraded apps. Some apps make system calls and they can change … the kernel API is not static.
OK, this sounds exceptional, far beyond an 08:15 user.
Yeah… that is why distro maintainers like Debian put enormous effort into keeping kernel versions and package versions synced. … so users dont have to do it.
It is also why Debian is so stable and so slow to include new versions .
Keeping versions synced in a rolling distro must be an even bigger challenge. Some like Void do it well.
Dont be alarmed. The system calls inferface and the modules interface in kernels do not change with every version. You will often get away with installing a new kernel … but not always.
You can also have troubles if you install packages from outside the repo. Lots of packages are kernel agnostic … but not all
I’m not at all. 
I rarely have issues with that.
You are missing the point @nevj . The Kernels interface in Mint is the list of kernels that you CAN install, not the list of installed.
Thank you @abu for testing what happened if you did enable it in LMDE.
Thank you @easyt50 . By comparing LM and LMDE is how I noticed the Kernel panel missing. I was curious if it could be enabled but I realize now that I can not.
Thank you all for the answers.
Sorry, I missed that. Thanks.
You can list available kernels with apt search linux
I am not sure if available means compatable?
I assume so. As you can see in the screenshot by Howard, it only lists a few (6.8, 6.11, 6.14, etc) so It makes sense that they have been tested and approved as compatible. But because this option does not work under LMDE it probably means that they are compatible with Ubuntu but not guaranteed to be compatible under Debian. At least that is my interpretation.
Debjan normally only has one kernel ( or maybe 2) per release … So I think you are correct there.
I am pretty sure the kernels listed are compatible. I once changed the kernel to 6.8 and Mint run fine.
Interesting! As LMDE is based on Debian 13 which was released with kernel 6.12 LTS I would not adventure to go back to 6.8 (used in Mint).
I’m glad you mentioned your experience.
I’m also confused because according to Linux Kernel | endoflife.date kernel 6.12 LTS is supported until 2029 while 6.8 was an interim kernel. But under Mint kernel 6.8 is supported until April 2029 and 6.12 (and 6.18, another LTS) isn’t even listed on the Kernels interface…
(BTW I removed the Solution flag for the moment)
Mint Cinnamon is currently using kernel 6.17. I forced (selected) my laptop to go back to 6.8, but my desktop is on 6.17.
Interesting, today I saw in the GUI I have the option to load kernel 7.0
I thought we were up to Debian 13?
Surely LMDE is not 5 releases behind?
Do you mean kernel 7 ?
Post corrected. Yes, I meant Debian 13.
Relax, I just had to delete a whole topic, because I made a mess of moving replies
Where my LMDE is still on 6.12. That is what the normal update manager brings in.
I saw this as well while digging through the pile of kernels.
Who dares wins - sometimes. 
But the answer to the topic question remains “No”, even if a discussion follows.
For sure! Thank you again for the clear answer and testing!